New Canadian Coast Guard Ship M. Charles M.B. officially joined the fleet at a ceremony in Port Alberni, British Columbia yesterday.
CCGS M. Charles M.B. is named after Seaman Martin Charles, S.C. M.B., of Bamfield, British Columbia, and Hereditary Chief of the Nitinaht Band. Martin Charles, now deceased, devoted his life and career to saving lives. He earned the Medal of Bravery for his instrumental role in a search and rescue incident that began with a sunken fishing vessel and ended with the crash of the helicopter assisting in the rescue efforts.
This is the eighth of nine Hero Class vessels to join the Coast Guard fleet. It will be used to support the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Conservation and Protection programs and support Search and Rescue on Canada’s west coast.
Since 2009, the Government of Canada has delivered several new vessels to the Coast Guard, including Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels, a hovercraft, Search and Rescue Lifeboats; Specialty Vessels, Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessels, environmental barges, and small craft.
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Image: Canadian CG