September 15, 2005
Powell River, B.C. - Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, announced today the naming and dedication of a new 47-foot multi-task high-endurance lifeboat, the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Cape Caution at the Canadian Coast Guard Station at Powell River, British Columbia.
"Search and rescue lifeboats, like this one, are key to our maritime search and rescue program," said Minister Regan. "Their strategic placement along our coasts provides the highest level of protection for both commercial and recreational vessels."
CCGC Cape Caution is the latest vessel to be named and dedicated in the second phase of new lifeboats for the Pacific Region. These lifeboats were constructed by Victoria Shipyards. The first phase included three for the West Coast; bringing the total number to 11.
All Canadian Coast Guard 47-foot lifeboats are all named after capes located on the coast where they operate. This effectively caused this class of lifeboats to be referred to within the department as the "cape class" vessels. CCGC Cape Caution was named after the cape located near Smith Sound, to the north of Vancouver Island in the Central Coast area of B.C.
Mrs. Tristan Wingham, wife of recently deceased CCG Station Powell River crew member Bob Wingham, was the sponsor of the vessel. Mrs. Wingham joins Mrs. Sylvia Montgomery and the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Iona Campagnolo in being sponsors for Coast Guard cutters this year. This past June, Her Honour named and dedicated CCGC Cape Ann and CCGC Cape Edensaw in a ceremony at the Victoria Inner Harbour. Earlier this week, Mrs. Sylvia Montgomery, named and dedicated CCGC Cape Cockburn in a ceremony at CCG Station French Creek.
The self-bailing and self-righting CCGC Cape Caution has a long cruising radius for its size. The design of the vessel means that it is built to withstand the most severe conditions at sea, and is capable of effecting a rescue under the most challenging circumstances. In addition to its primary function of search and rescue (SAR), the vessel will carry out fisheries conservation and protection operations, environmental response, and provide support to other departmental and government operations.
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For more information:
Dan Bate
Canadian Coast Guard
Communications Officer
604-775-8809
