Ottawa announces $6.6 million for new lifeboat station in Burin

Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield today announced that a new Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue Lifeboat Station will be built in Burin to replace the existing facility.

A news release states the $6.6-million lifeboat station will allow the wharf and operations building at the existing station to be replaced. The new facility will bring improvements in service delivery.

Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in the spring and is scheduled for completion in 2015. Search and rescue operations will remain at the existing site until the new site is constructed.

“The safety of fishermen, recreational boaters, shippers and sailors is a top priority of the Canadian Coast Guard,” Ashfield said. “As part of our ongoing efforts to upgrade and replace Coast Guard resources across Canada, this new facility will provide critical lifesaving search and rescue service for years to come.”

The Burin Lifeboat Station is home to the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter W. Jackman, a search and rescue vessel providing 24-hour coverage with a crew of four. The new station will include construction of a wharf, operations building with living quarters and a storage facility.

In addition to search and rescue services, the new facility will provide added capacity for the operation of rigid-hulled inflatable boats from the Conservation and Protection Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

For more on the story, see Friday’s Telegram.

Westcoast Mariner: - February 23, 2013 at 04:28:03

As a mariner who has sailed on both coasts, this decision is absolutely rediculous! Compared to English Bay area around Vancouver, the Burin Peninsula has NO boats and NO traffic. And yet Coast Guard just closed down the Vancouver Station at an annual savings of $700,000. It's like putting our firefighters on the North Pole. It makes ZERO sense. These Coast Guard bureaucrats are idiots!

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Mitch: - February 22, 2013 at 14:52:07

{quote}“The safety of fishermen, recreational boaters, shippers and sailors is a top priority of the Canadian Coast Guard,” Ashfield said. “As part of our ongoing efforts to upgrade and replace Coast Guard resources across Canada, this new facility will provide critical lifesaving search and rescue service for years to come.” { end quote} BS, they're eliminating Coast Guard facilities in Vancouver, and sentencing innocent people to death.

Ron J Davis: - February 22, 2013 at 03:00:32

From Vancouver but having visited NL last summer I am dissapointed that Vancouverites are pouting because of the loss of one city facility for this much more needed upgrade to a very large part of NL. I hope it does the job and helps save lives in my favourite "away" province!

First Class Cynic: - February 21, 2013 at 20:46:31

That should be comforting to the South coast fishermen. On the other hand the Northeast Coast longliner fleet does not a have single offshore resource based anywhere north of St. Johns. They'll say different but that is the case.

Keith: - February 21, 2013 at 19:28:14

What the govt won't tell you is that the "Cutter" Jackman is an outdated vessel, too small for the harsh conditions found around the coast of Newfoundland. If a large vessel has an accident on the south or west coast of Newfoundland these 50 foot vessels would only be able to carry a few people at a time. Not to mention if the wind is too high, they are useless. What a joke.

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The Telegram - News - Local

Ottawa announces $6.6 million for new lifeboat station in Burin

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