Ministerial Statement – Minister Crocker Honours Crew of MV Flanders

  • Transportation and Works

November 4, 2019

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Transportation and Works:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this honourable house with great pride to honour the crew of the MV Flanders.

On the evening of July 9, the Flanders and its crew were in Portugal Cove when they received a call from the Canadian Coast Guard requesting assistance.

Two men were in distress in Conception Bay after a watercraft they were operating overturned.

The vessel departed within minutes and with a general location of where to search and assistance from the coast guard, the men were located a short time later.

Crew members used a marshalling boat to get from the vessel to the two men and pull them from the frigid water.

Finally, once aboard the Flanders, they received First Aid before the vessel returned to Portugal Cove, where they were treated by paramedics.

When the crew received the call from the coast guard, they responded immediately and darkness was setting in when they pulled the men from the water.

Mr. Speaker, crews on our provincial ferries often go above and beyond the call of duty, and I don’t want to think about what could have happened had the crew not responded as quickly as they did.

On behalf of all Honourable Members of this House and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, I extend my congratulations to the heroes on board the MV Flanders for their actions that evening.

Thank you.

2019 11 04 2:35 pm