Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

The following is a joint release from the offices of John Cummins, MP (Delta-Richmond East) and Alice Wong, MP (Richmond) regarding the funding of a new hovercraft to be stationed on Sea Island and operated by the Coast Guard in Richmond.

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Ottawa – “The Budget set aside $27.3 million for a new state-of-the-art hovercraft to be stationed at the Coast Guard base at Sea Island in Richmond, adjacent to the airport,” said Alice Wong, M.P. (Richmond)

“This is great news for recreational boaters, commercial mariners, the Vancouver airport and all who rely on the Coast Guard hovercraft should trouble occur. I have been fighting for a new hovercraft for almost a decade and am delighted by the news,” said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-Richmond East).

Hovercraft must be available on a 24-7 basis to affect marine rescues of boats in trouble and most importantly to be available to assist in the rescue of those aboard passenger jets that might be forced to ditch on the shallows and mudflats off the airport runway. There are no other craft or vessels that can so effectively operate in shallow water or on the mudflats when the tide is out.

Hovercraft are high performance craft requiring almost constant maintenance. In order to maintain 24-7 coverage two hovercraft are required, due to down times for maintenance or when a vessel is deployed elsewhere.

There are currently two hovercraft operating out of Sea Island.

The new craft will replace the Penac, a European vessel constructed in 1984 which was purchased, and converted from a passenger vessel to a Search-and-Rescue craft by the CCG in 2004. Upgrades extended the life of the vessel, but the operational capacity was still limited because of the restrictions associated with the original design.

“When I raised the issue of the limitations of the PENAC and the need for replacement with the Prime Minister in mid 2009, he was very supportive of the need to acquire a new state-of-the-art hovercraft capable of operating in all weather and sea conditions,” said Cummins.

“Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans deserve credit for finding the $27.3 million for the acquisition of a replacement for the PENAC at a time of spending restraint,” noted Wong.

Contact: John Cummins, M.P. (613) 992-2957, (cell) (604) 970-0937, (604) 940-8040
Alice Wong, M.P. (613) 995-2012

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