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The National Environment and
Planning Agency (NEPA) has secured a new boat. The vessel, the
‘Hippocampus’ (scientific name for Seahorse), was named in
recognition of the mascot for the Palisadoes Port Royal Protected
Area which is also a Ramsar Site. The boat will be used for the
Agency’s marine environmental enforcement patrols and marine
research and assessment activities. The 26 ˝ foot long
‘Hippocampus’is a MercPanga fibre glass hull vessel that can attain
a top speed of 53 knots or approximately 100 kilometres per hour. It
is powered by two fuel efficient 90 horsepower four stroke engines
which are more environmentally friendly than the older two-stroke
designs. The vessel has a fuel capacity of 81 gallons and a range of
40 nautical miles.
The ‘Hippocampus’, which was
purchased with funds donated by the Natural Resources Conservation
Authority (NRCA), will allow the Agency to enhance its operational
capacity. While the vessel will be used primarily in the
Palisadoes/Port Royal Protected Area, it will also be used to carry
out routine patrols and enforcement activities along the south
coast. The ‘Hippocampus’ will also allow the Agency to effectively
deploy and maintain marker and mooring buoys within protected areas
on the south coast.
Request for Coverage
You are being invited to
provide coverage for the launch of the vessel on Friday, July 4,
2008 at 11am, at the Port Royal Marine Lab. Specially invited guests
to the launch will include NEPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Leary
Myers and board members of the NRCA. Launch activities will include
a brief opening ceremony and a short ride aboard the new boat.
The Hippocampus
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