Huron and Area Search and Rescue will have a new ship at their disposal this spring, as the organization is close to restoring the boat thanks to contributions from local businesses.
Goderich RONA donated several panels this week to allow volunteers to finish off the twin-engine 40 ft vessel. The ship will be named the Florence Graham, in honour of a local nurse who died serving overseas in WWI.
They already have a 23-foot vessel in their fleet, but Patrick Armstrong, the commander and cofounder of HASAR, says the bigger boat means they can offer more help to the coast guard.
“This was our first season as a coast guard auxiliary so we had to build our relationship with them so that they were comfortable with us coming out as well,” says Armstrong. “They’re aware of our limitations with the 23-foot, so if they’re out in six-foot swells, they’re not going to call us out. Next year, knowing we have the 40-foot, that opens up our call-outs because of the vessel we have now.”
HASAR responded to six calls with the coast guard this year.
They also thank the Maitland Marina for letting them store the ship there.
