Seasonal Closure of Inshore Rescue Boat Stations Around the Great Lakes

SARNIA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 30, 2013) - The Canadian Coast Guard advises the public that six seasonal summer Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) stations located around the Great Lakes will be winding down their annual summer operations.

Five IRB stations will cease seasonal operations on Monday, September 2, 2013. They are:

• Port-Lambton
• Brebeuf Island (Honey Harbour)
• Long Point
• Hill Island
• Britt

The Thames River IRB station, located on Lake St Clair, will continue to operate on the following weekends: September 7-8; 14-15; and possibly 21-22, depending on weather patterns.

All IRB stations will reopen in the spring of 2014, coinciding with the start of the peak summer boating season on the Great Lakes in Ontario.

Eight primary Search and Rescue Stations listed have been operational throughout the spring and summer and will continue to provide search and rescue services around the Great Lakes until their seasonal winter closure later in the year.

• Tobermory
• Goderich
• Meaford
• Amherstburg
• Port Dover
• Port Weller
• Cobourg
• Kingston

Marine emergencies can be called into the 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Toll-free (within Canada) at 1-800-267-7270, or via marine VHF radio - channel 16.

More information is available on the Canadian Coast Guard's Search and Rescue program in the Central and Arctic Region.

For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca.

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