The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has welcomed the Bay-class search and rescue lifeboat, the CCGS Baie de Gaspé, into its fleet.
This event marks the final dedication of the Bay-class search and rescue lifeboats, all of which were constructed in Canada. The vessel is the 20th lifeboat in the Bay-class series constructed under the Government of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). It was built by Chantier Naval Forillon, in Gaspé, Québec.
The CCG accepted the high-endurance lifeboat in October 2025. Its homeport is Rivière-au-Renard, Quebec, where it supports search and rescue operations along the Gaspé Peninsula.
The CCG’s new search and rescue lifeboats are specifically designed, equipped, and crewed to respond to incidents at sea. These vessels are self-righting and can operate up to 120 nautical miles from shore, maintaining a maximum 30-minute state of readiness at all times with a typical ability to respond the moment an alert is received, according to the officials.
Through the NSS, the Government of Canada is investing in the renewal of the CCG’s fleet and creating skilled jobs in Canada’s shipbuilding industry and marine sector.
“When lives are at risk on the water, Canadians count on the Canadian Coast Guard to answer the call. Built by the skilled workers at Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, the CCGS Baie de Gaspé is a testament to Québec’s shipbuilding excellence and Canada's ability to build world-class vessels here at home. This twentieth and final Bay Class lifeboat represents an important milestone in protecting Canadians, strengthening our maritime capabilities, and supporting the Canadian workers and industries that help keep our country safe," David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defense, said.
“Dedicating the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Baie de Gaspé is a proud moment for the Canadian Coast Guard. As the final Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboat, it completes a fleet that has transformed our capabilities across the country, and will proudly serve Canadians with reliability, speed, and resilience for decades to come," Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, commented.
In 2018, Chantier Naval Forillon and Hike Metal Products were awarded the construction of four new Bay-class vessels each, in addition to the existing contract awarded in 2015 to build six boats each. The total value of the contracts for these 20 vessels was approximately $180 million.