Marine ambulance returns after refurbishment work

Maintenance on the nearly 30-year-old vessel is being carried out in various phases throughout the year

The Bailiwick's only marine ambulance has returned to Guernsey after refurbishment work in the Isle of Wight.

Upgrades made to the St John Marine Ambulance, the Flying Christine III, could extend its life by up to 10 years, the service said.

Maintenance on the nearly 30-year-old vessel is being carried out in various phases throughout the year.

In total, the work is expected to cost about £200,000.

Back for Liberation Day

Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey's chief executive officer, Mark Mapp, said it was cheaper to rebuild the vessel than replace it.

"We've done a lot of work on the interior cabin where the treatment area is. Essentially it looks like a normal road ambulance in the back of the Flying Christine."

Mr Mapp said it was important the vessel was back in the island for Liberation Day as it was involved in some of the celebrations.

"She needs a good deep clean before she goes back into service and all the clinical and medical equipment needs to be put back on her first."

Phase one of the maintenance programme has now been completed with the second phase scheduled for December, avoiding the summer period when demand for the marine ambulance is normally higher.

Volunteer marine operations manager, Gary Ward, said the vessel was "good to go for another 10 years or even more."

Mr Ward said: "Phase one was to do all the mechanical side to the boat. Looking after the engines, the gearboxes and the electronics and now we've just done the hull, the superstructure, the clinical cabin, all the navigation system has been replaced."