Katherine Bickford

M. Charles M.B. in Port Hardy

CCGS M. Charles M.B. is named after Seaman Martin Charles, S.C. M.B., of Bamfield, British Columbia, and Hereditary Chief of the Nitinaht Band.

Martin served in the Canadian Coast guard for 32 years and was based in Bamfield. On Feb. 29, 1976 he and his crew were called to a fishing vessel in distress and managed to reach two of the crewmen aboard the doomed boat.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescued a third survivor stranded high on a rock so the Canadian Coast Guard vessel headed for shore with its two survivors.

But the winds were fierce and the American helicopter crashed into the sea. Martin Charles and his crew, including his young son Clifford, turned around and headed back into the storm to look for survivors.

In the end, the Canadian Coast Guard saved three of the four fishermen and all of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew. The captain of the fishing boat was lost at sea.

Seaman Martin Charles was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his heroics from the Government of Canada and another Medal of Bravery from the U.S. Coast Guard.

CCGSM. Charles M.B. is the eighth of nine Hero Class vessels to join the Coast Guard fleet. It will be used to support the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Conservation and Protection programs and support Search and Rescue on Canada’s west coast.

• Built: 2014, Irving Shipbuilding Inc.,Saint John New Brunswick
• Gross Tonnage (t): 253.00
• Net Tonnage (t): 75.00
• Construction Material: Steel
• Vessel Length (m): 39.68
• Vessel Breadth (m): 6.99
• Vessel Depth (m): 3.81
• Engines: 2 x Diesel
• Speed (knots): 25.0
• Propulsion Method: Twin Screw
• Propulsion Power: 4992 Killowatts
• Range: 2000 nautical miles, at 14 knots
• Endurance: 2 weeks
• Crew: 9 + 5 Fishery/RCMP officers