£8,000 still needed to refit Guernsey's only marine ambulance

Wednesday, 12 March 2025 17:35

Photo credit Maritime Filming/Diverse Marine.

Work on the 30-year refit of the Flying Christine III is progressing well.

The Bailiwick’s only marine ambulance is currently undergoing the second phase of a critical refurbishment project, ensuring she remains fit for purpose for at least another decade.

The work at Diverse Marine on the Isle of Wight includes a hull restoration and fender replacement to preserve structural integrity and seaworthiness, as well as a repainting and refinishing to protect the vessel against the elements.

The onboard clinical area is also getting upgrades to improve infection control and create a better working environment for medical teams.

The Flying Christine III is expected to return to service at Easter.

A fundraising appeal launched in January aims to raise an additional £20,000 to complete further essential upgrades - £8,000 is still needed to reach that target.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp says future-proofing the vessel is essential.

“For three decades, the Flying Christine III has been a lifeline for island communities, responding to medical emergencies in challenging marine environments, where conventional ambulance transport is simply not an option.

"Whether it's an urgent medical evacuation from Sark, Herm, or Alderney, or providing advanced paramedic care at sea, this vessel plays an irreplaceable role in the Bailiwick.

"Given the demanding nature of marine operations, the vessel over the past 30 years has been subjected to extreme conditions, making this refurbishment not just beneficial, but absolutely necessary."

Volunteer Operations Manager Gary Ward says the crew look forward to seeing the refurbished vessel.

“The latest reports from the boatyard are very positive and we are looking forward to having the Flying Christine III back in Guernsey and back in-service next month.

"The volunteer crew will be spending the next few weeks undertaking classroom based training, but I know they will be keen to get back onboard and back on the water.”