May 20, 2015 - Port Alberni, British Columbia
Senator Nancy Greene Raine, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, officially welcomed the new Canadian Coast Guard Ship M. Charles M.B. into service at a ceremony in Port Alberni, British Columbia today. She was joined by several members of the Charles family and the Nitinaht Band.
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.
CCGSM. Charles M.B. 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.
Sophie Doucet
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
NR-PR-15-12E
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