Coast Guard introduces New High end endurance Search and Rescue lifeboat to be based in Prince Rupert

The McIntyre Bay will be on its way to Prince Rupert shortly, the new
Lifeboat Bay Class vessel has been tasked to serve out of Seal Cove
(photo from the Prescott Anchor Facebook page)

The Canadian Coast Guard is about to add to the fleet on the North Coast with an announcement today that the CCGS McIntyre Bay, a Bay Class Lifeboat, will be stationed at the Prince Rupert Coast Guard Base at Seal Cove.

The announcement was made today by Fisheries and Coast Guard Minister Jonathon Wilkinson who took part in an event at the Coast Guard base in Sidney on Vancouver Island.

“The Government of Canada will continue to provide the Canadian Coast Guard with the equipment it needs to ensure the safety of mariners, and to protect the marine environment. Our investment in these new Bay Class search and rescue lifeboats is enhancing the essential marine search and rescue services we provide in Canada’s waters every day, while supporting and promoting Canada’s marine industry." -- Johnathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard


The boats that are about to head into service are 19-metre long, have a top speed of 25 knots in calm conditions, and can operate up to 100 nautical miles from shore.

They are considered all-weather vessels, with the ability to operate in hurricane force conditions, and will right themselves should they capsize.

With CCGS McIntyre Bay to be deployed to Prince Rupert, B.C., a second vessel CCGS Pachena Bay will be deployed to Port Hardy, both go into service in 2019.

Details on the plans for the Lifeboat class of vessels can be found from this information statement from the Canadian Coast Guard.

We first made note of the Coast Guard's plans back in July with this background item on the new vessel procurement work for the West Coast.

An Ontario Facebook Group had the first look at the new vessel in action as it was put through its paces in that province prior to departure for British Columbia.

More notes related to the work of Emergency Responders on the North Coast can be found from our archive page here.