News Release - July 14, 2005

NR-C&A-10-05E

Paul Macklin Announces the Naming and Dedication of the CCGC Cape Mercy in Cobourg, Ontario

Cobourg, Ontario - Paul Macklin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Member of Parliament for the constituency of Northumberland-Quinte West, announced today on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the naming and dedication of the Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue vessel CCGC Cape Mercy. The vessel is currently assigned to the Coast Guard Station in Cobourg, Ontario where it is tasked to operate in northern Lake Ontario.

"It is an honour and a privilege to be taking part in this christening", said Mr. Macklin "Lifeboats are of critical importance to Canadians, tourists and industry who use Great Lakes and other inland waters for commercial and recreational purposes such as fishing, boating and transporting goods".

The vessel will be christened by Mrs. Suzanne Delanty.

The CCGC Cape Mercy is part of the new class of Search and Rescue cutters put into service across Canada. This class of vessel is named after significant geographic features found in the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and takes into account both the Arctic and Great Lakes waters which the Region serves.

Although she won't be officially commissioned until this morning, the Cape Mercy and its Canadian Coast Guard home base here have already proven their worth.

The 47-foot lifeboat, capable of speeds of 25 knots, has been operating out of Port Dover and Cobourg Ontario and has already been involved in many search and rescue cases and several more emergency cases where lives would have been in peril without its assistance.

Built in 2000 in Kingston, Ontario by Mil/Metal Craft Marine, the CCGC Cape Mercy is a multi-task medium endurance lifeboat. The vessel is 47 feet in length with twin diesel engines, and can reach a speed of 25 knots for rapid deployment from home port to search and rescue areas. The vessel maintains a full crew complement of four and will provide search and rescue coverage 24 hours per day, 7 days per week during the operational season.

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For more information:
Theresa Nichols
DFO Communications
Sarnia, Ontario
(519) 383-1804