NR-HQ-00-63E

CANADIAN AND AMERICAN COAST GUARD LEADERS MEET ABOARD THE NEW ARCTIC ICEBREAKER AND RESEARCH  VESSEL CGC HEALY

July 24, 2000

OTTAWA -- The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Admiral James M. Loy, and the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) at Fisheries and Oceans Canada,

Mr. John Adams, will spend two days together reviewing the latest in icebreaking and scientific research. On July 25^th and 26^th, they will board the new U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy to observe the vessel's operations as it passes near Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island in Nunavut.

The Healy has been conducting trials of its icebreaking capabilities off Baffin Island since April. More recently, the cutter’s scientific personnel have been testing its equipment that includes capabilities for seabed mapping, depth sounding and testing for water salinity and temperature. The United States and Canadian governments will share the icebreaking and scientific data gathered during the Healy's inaugural voyage to the Arctic.

To benefit from the knowledge gained during the voyage, several Canadian representatives and CCG officials have joined their American counterparts in this cooperative research voyage. An ice analyst from the Canadian Ice Service, two CCG Icebreaker captains as well as naval engineers from Transport Canada are taking part in this Arctic voyage.

Both teams have worked together to ensure that the activities of the Healy would not be disruptive to local communities. During ice trials off Baffin Island, the Healy carried a local Inuit, acting as a guide, to avoid disturbance of Innu hunting operations in the vicinity of the Healy. Prior to these trials, the USCG and CCG consulted with local Inuit leaders at Qikiqtarjuaq (Broughton Island) and Clyde River on Baffin Island to coordinate planning of the trip and to seek their views for the best testing locations.

"I am thrilled to be sailing with the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard on this maiden voyage of the Cutter Healy. The U.S and Canada share a common interest in protecting the earth’s polar regions," said Admiral Loy.

"The Canadian and American Coast Guards have been at the forefront of Arctic research as was evidenced by the historic 1998 SHEBA mission, a joint U.S./Canadian research endeavour. I welcome this opportunity to once again work in cooperation with our American counterpart," added Commissioner Adams.

The Healy, delivered to the USCG in November 1999, is a 16,000-ton purpose-built heavy icebreaker and high latitude oceanographic research vessel. The Healy arrived in the Davis Strait off Baffin Island in early April to begin Arctic trials. By early August, the Healy will have traversed the Northwest Passage and will be on the final leg of its voyage to its new homeport of Seattle, Washington.

More information on the Healy is available at http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/healy

More information on the Canadian Coast Guard is available at http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca