Minister helps Blankenbergse Sea Rescue Service with financing for new rescue ship

The Voluntary Blankenbergse Zeereddingsdienst (VBZR) is a maritime Search And Rescue (SAR) organization consisting of volunteers. They are deployed and called up by the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center (MRCC) for rescue and assistance in the North Sea between Ostend and Cadzand.

130 interventions

One of the VBZR’s lifeboats was in urgent need of replacement. That is why a new ship is now being built, with a cost price of 1.2 million euros. Minister of the North Sea Vincent Van Quickenborne received an explanation today about the operation of the rescue service.

“The work of these people is of great importance. They rescue drowning people, boats that get into trouble. This service carries out about 130 interventions per year and that all rests on the shoulders of volunteers who do not ask for any support for this.” says the minister.

150,000 euros

The VBZR still needs about 150,000 euros for the construction of the new ship. “The government supports this operation and we will also try to find people and companies in our network who can support them.”

After the explanation of the operation of VBZR, the minister also boarded one of the service’s rescue ships. “This way I can see up close in which conditions these people go to work. Today the weather conditions are calm, but they sometimes have to save people in difficult circumstances. So they have to be very well trained for that.”