After a voting process lasting over a month, the Montserrat community at home and abroad voted to name the new and long-awaited marine vessel, MV “Heliconia Star“, which arrived on Wednesday morning having sailed from Antigua to Montserrat with its crew and members of the marine unit here on board. It arrived in Montserrat on May 16, 2018, only a few days later than the originally estimated time of April.
The voting panel comprising the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Head of the Marine Unit, the Financial Secretary, the Head of the Governor’s office and Ms Rose Willock, from a shortlist of seven names chose from the 138 suggested, the name for the new police vessel which arrived in Montserrat on May 16, 2018, to a waiting crowd of officials and onlookers.
This, after the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency had confirmed that no other vessel on the UK or Montserrat shipping register currently carries this name and it is therefore eligible to be used.
To a great welcome especially by the marine unit of the RMPS, former Governor Carriere is credited to have finally sealed the deal with HMG, which really came after the Montserrat media continually pressed especially the regional Jamaica resident of the need for and search and rescue capacity and not least security control of Montserrat’s borders.
The now described 80 feet vessel has been funded by the UK Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), which runs from 2016 – 2020. The funding for the vessel includes a three-year maintenance package. Thereafter, Government of Montserrat is expected to support maintenance.
The vessel is reportedly of fibreglass reinforced plastic hull and superstructure, a twin-screw patrol vessel capable of a range of 300 nautical miles and a speed of up to 32 knots. It is a Damen Stan Patrol 2205 Mk2; will have a crew of four. It can facilitate four more officers and it has a galley, sleeping and bathroom facilities. In addition, the vessel will have a ramp that mounts a twenty-foot rigid inflatable boat powered by an outboard motor. This last is claimed to be a special modification made to suit Montserrat’s needs.
An elated Commissioner Foster lauded the key stakeholders who he said were very instrumental in making their dream come true after a delay of more than two years. “It is a very happy feeling for the Heliconia Star to be finally on Montserrat after about two and a half years of working behind the scenes and in front of the scene with all the different stakeholders,” he told the media who tried unsuccessfully to draw out how and when the dream finally began to become a reality.
The person who suggested this name in the initial round was Ms Edith Duberry and we will be in touch with her to discuss the prize she will receive.
More in our next report on the MV Heliconia Star.
