Coastguard photo still
The Canadian Coast Guard has officially welcomed the CCGS Groswater Bay into its fleet, adding another Canadian-built search and rescue vessel to protect mariners off Newfoundland's west coast.
Why it matters
The dedication marks another milestone in a long-running program to renew the Coast Guard's search and rescue capacity with vessels built entirely in Canada, supporting both maritime safety and domestic shipbuilding jobs.
Driving the news
MP Philip Earle, representing Labrador, attended the dedication ceremony on behalf of Defence Minister David J. McGuinty. The CCGS Groswater Bay is one of 20 Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats being delivered to the Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Built by Hike Metal Products Ltd. in Wheatley, Ont., the vessel was delivered and accepted by the CCG in August 2024 and will be stationed in Lark Harbour on Newfoundland's west coast.
The details
The Bay Class lifeboats are self-righting, high-endurance vessels built to respond to incidents at sea. They can operate up to 120 nautical miles from shore and maintain a maximum 30-minute state of readiness. Each vessel is named after a Canadian bay under the federal Vessel Naming Policy.
Chief Jenny Brake of Qalipu First Nation, the ship's sponsor, formally named the vessel and broke the ceremonial bottle on its bow, wishing "fair winds and good fortune" to those who will sail on it.
What they're saying
"Every vessel we bring into service makes Canada's maritime response stronger and our waters safer," McGuinty said, adding the Groswater Bay reflects the government's commitment to a modern, Canadian-built coast guard fleet.
Joël Lightbound, minister of government transformation, public works and procurement, said the National Shipbuilding Strategy is "creating good Canadian jobs, strengthening our shipbuilding industry, and delivering the vessels our Coast Guard needs."
Earle called the dedication "deeply meaningful" for Labrador communities whose lives are shaped by the sea, while Coast Guard Commissioner Kevin Brosseau said the vessel's addition "holds special significance for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, whose lives and livelihoods are closely tied to the ocean."
By the numbers
20: Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats under construction or delivered
$180 million: approximate total value of the two lifeboat construction contracts
120: nautical miles the vessels can operate from shore
30: minutes, the vessels' maximum state of readiness
6,000: marine assistance calls the Coast Guard responds to annually
30: small vessels delivered to the CCG under the NSS to date
Background
The Bay Class program dates to two construction contracts: six lifeboats awarded in 2015, followed by four more each to Chantier Naval Forillon Inc. of Gaspé, Que., and Hike Metal Products in 2018. The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term, multi-billion-dollar federal program renewing both the Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy fleets while building domestic shipbuilding capacity. To date, 30 small vessels have been delivered under the NSS, including 20 search and rescue lifeboats, two channel survey and sounding vessels, seven hydrographic survey vessels and one coastal research vessel.
What's next
The remaining Bay Class lifeboats in the 20-vessel program continue to enter service at Coast Guard stations across the country as construction wraps up.
