ST. JOHN'S, NL - The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today welcomed back to homeport the crew of the icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen from operations in the Arctic.
"The CCGS Larsen and its highly skilled crew are very important to protecting Canada's north," said Minister Ashfield. "The Larsen provided helicopter and rescue specialist support at a tragic commercial plane crash in August. We are proud of our men and women of the Coast Guard and the work that they do every day to keep Canada's waters safe."
In the weeks ahead, the Henry Larsen will undergo its annual maintenance in preparation for winter ice operations in Newfoundland and Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Information about the CCGS Henry Larsen, the Canadian Coast Guard Arctic missions and Canada's Northern Strategy is available online: www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca and http://www.northernstrategy.gc.ca/index-eng.asp.
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has committed to renewing the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. This investment of $1.4 billion includes the procurement of small vessels and small craft, repairs and Vessel Life Extensions as part of the Economic Action Plan, and construction of nine Hero Class Patrol Vessels, three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels, one Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel, one Air Cushioned Vehicle and a new Polar Icebreaker - CCGS John G. Diefenbaker.
The Polar Icebreaker and the Offshore Science vessels will be constructed as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, led by Public Works and Government Services Canada.
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For more information:
Barbara Mottram
Press Secretary
Minister Keith Ashfield
(613) 992-3474
