Ministers Welcome New Vessel to the Canadian Coast Guard Fleet

ALBERTON, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwired - July 11, 2013) - The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today officially welcomed a new addition to the Canadian Coast Guard fleet at the naming and dedication ceremony for CCGS S. Dudka in Alberton, Prince Edward Island.

"I am proud to be part of a government that has invested more in the Canadian Coast Guard than any government in Canadian history," said Minister Gail Shea. "We are making strategic investments in the Coast Guard to help them do their job. Here on the Island and all across Canada, their role is crucial as they are protecting those who make a living on the sea and our fisheries and oceans."

The CCGS S. Dudka is named after Stanley Dudka, a decorated war veteran and distinguished Fishery Officer. Minister Shea and Minister MacKay were joined by Melody Aubin, eldest daughter of Mr. Dudka and the sponsor of the vessel on behalf of the family.

"It is a privilege to name this vessel after a Canadian hero such as Stanley Dudka. I had the great honour to know Mr. Dudka, a man committed to his country, his community and his family," said Minister MacKay. "This new vessel is a fitting tribute to a Nova Scotian who proudly represented his country."

The Dudka is a 14-metre vessel which will be primarily used for fisheries enforcement duties in the waters around Prince Edward Island. The CCGS S. Dudka is the fourth jet boat delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard in support of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Conservation and Protection Program.

The vessel was built by ABCO Industries Limited in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia at a cost of $2.9 million.

Since 2009, over 100 new vessels have been built for the Coast Guard, including: four Hero-class Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels (CCGS Private Robertson V.C., CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., CCGS Corporal Teather C.V, and the CCGS Constable Carrière); the hovercraft CCGS Mamilossa; five Search and Rescue Lifeboats; two Specialty Vessels; three Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessels; and, numerous environmental barges and small craft.

For broadcast : ALBERTON, Prince Edward Island - A new vessel for the Canadian Coast Guard fleet was introduced during a naming and dedication to service ceremony in Alberton, Prince Edward Island today. The CCGS S. Dudka, a fishery enforcement vessel, is named after the late Stanley Dudka, a decorated war veteran and distinguished Fishery Officer.

Minister of National Revenue and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Gail Shea, and Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, welcomed members of the Dudka family who travelled to Prince Edward Island for the ceremony.

The CCGS S. Dudka was built by ABCO Industries Limited in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia at a cost of $2.9 million.

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

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NEW CANADIAN COAST GUARD VESSEL NAMED FOR WAR HERO AND DISTINGUISHED FISHERY OFFICER

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Keith Ashfield has announced the latest addition to the Canadian Coast Guard fleet will be named CCGS S. Dudka after the late Stanley Dudka, a decorated veteran of the Second World War and a distinguished fishery officer with the Department.

Mr. Dudka was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1923. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1939 at the age of 16.

On June 6, 1944, Mr. Dudka landed at Juno Beach with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, part of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. Despite being wounded several times Mr. Dudka continued to take part in the Canadian Army's actions when on June 7 he was captured by the enemy.

After two unsuccessful attempts, Mr. Dudka finally succeeded on escaping and made his way back to Allied lines. He rejoined his unit and continued to take part in the Army's European campaign.

For his actions under fire, Mr. Dudka was later awarded the Military Medal for distinguished service at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

While Mr. Dudka was in captivity he witnessed the murder of Canadian Prisoners of War by enemy soldiers under the command of SS Major Kurt Meyer. In late 1945, Mr. Dudka testified at Meyer's war crimes trial before a Canadian Military Court in Aurich, Germany.

Following demobilization, Mr. Dudka returned to New Glasgow where he became a coal miner. He volunteered to become a draegerman, part of the mine's specially-trained rescue team.

In 1958 Mr. Dudka joined the Department as a fishery officer in the "Special Force" which was dedicated to reducing the illegal salmon and lobster fisheries in the Maritimes. Later in his career with the Department he led the effort to coordinate enforcement efforts in the Gulf area seal hunt. In addition Mr. Dudka was involved in the pioneering efforts to launch the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF), which was the predecessor to the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).

Mr. Dudka was honoured twice by the Department for his service as fishery officer: in 1967 he received the Centennial Medal for Meritorious Service and in 1974 the Public Service Merit Award.

Mr. Dudka retired from the Department in 1988. He died in 2008 aged 85.

Naming Canadian Coast Guard vessels

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Naming Policy outlines the process for naming vessels and classes of vessels, and provides general guidelines for the selection and approval of those names. Canadian Coast Guard ships are named traditionally to promote Canadian culture, geography, sovereignty and history.

About the New Vessel

The new vessel was built at ABCO Industries Limited boatyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The $2.9 million vessel is used primarily to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Conservation and Protection program in the Department's Gulf Region.

The CCGS S. Dudka is 14 metres in length and features twin diesels powering twin jet-drives. The vessel is based in Alberton, Prince Edward Island.