Canadian Coast Guard christens new vessel

The Canadian Coast Guard has named a new vessel, Canadian Coast Guard Service (CCGS) S. Dudka.

The new vessel has been named in honour of a decorated war veteran and distinguished federal fishery officer, Stan Dudka.

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Keith Ashfield said, "It is with great humility that we name this vessel for the late Stan Dudka, a man who dedicated his life to service to his country."

The Coast Guard has awarded a $2.9m contract to ABCO Industries to build the 14m-long vessel, which is undergoing construction at the company’s shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.

The jet-propelled CCGS S. Dudka has been designed to support missions for the coast guard as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Conservation and Protection programme in the department’s Gulf region.

Based in Alberton, Prince Edward Island, the vessel is scheduled for delivery to the CCGS later in 2012.

The CCGS has invested more than $1.4bn to procure new mid-shore patrol vessels, scientific research vessels, a new hovercraft and Canada’s first polar icebreaker, to boost its capabilities.

The Coast Guard recently christened a new shore fishery research vessel, CCGS Vladykov to support search and rescue, environmental response to pollution incidents as well as other federal, provincial and municipal government agencies in response to law enforcement and humanitarian requests.