The Canadian Coast Guard opens a new search and rescue centre in Victoria.
The Canadian Coast Guard says a new search and rescue centre will enhance its capacity around Victoria and in the eastern and central Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The centre is now open in James Bay on Huron Street.
The federal government says studies identified the east and central Strait of Juan de Fuca as an area that would most benefit from increased capacity.
The new Victoria station will operate around the clock and is home to a 14.7-metre Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat and a rigid hull inflatable boat.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Parliamentary Secretary Terry Beech was at a ceremony to open the new search and rescue station.
Beech also announced the coast guard will deploy two new search and rescue lifeboats in B.C. next year, with the Pachena Bay serving Port Hardy.
The ship is able to operate up to 100 nautical miles from shore.
The other vessel, The CCGS McIntyre Bay, will be stationed at Prince Rupert.
The government says the lifeboats are part of a new class of vessels being named after bays in Canada.
CHEK News
