Canadian Coast Guard's Seasonal Search and Rescue Stations Reopen for the 2012 Season

DARTMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - April 5, 2012) - The Canadian Coast Guard Maritimes region will reopen its seasonal search and rescue stations in Souris and Summerside, Prince Edward Island and Shippagan, New Brunswick on April 11.

Crews will be at the stations in early April to ready vessels for the season.

The three stations close annually in early December due to ice conditions in the Northumberland Strait and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The search and rescue stations in Nova Scotia at Bickerton, Clark's Harbour, Louisburg and Westport as well as the station in Saint John, New Brunswick remain operational year round.

The Canadian Coast Guard's stations are strategically located to provide assistance as quickly as possible in order to minimize loss of life, injury and property damage in the maritime environment; and to reduce the number and severity of maritime incidents and the risk to the environment.

For broadcast: The Canadian Coast Guard Maritimes Region will reopen its seasonal search and rescue (SAR) stations in Souris and Summerside, Prince Edward Island and in Shippagan, New Brunswick on April 11.