The Liston “Huntie” Sprauve Ambulance Boat will be dry-docked beginning Thursday to undergo its first routine maintenance check. “This will be the ambulance boat’s first checkup since it was dedicated and began operations six months ago, April 2011,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Marc A. Jerome said. “The Department of Health will work closely with Gold Coast Yachts to ensure that this state-of-the-art ambulance boat is appropriately maintained.”
The boat will leave St. John on Thursday, Sept. 1, to sail to St. Croix, where Gold Coast Yachts Inc., the company which built the 55-foot catamaran-hull design, is based.
The ambulance boat, which was built to specifications and in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard mandates, ensures a highly stable working platform and is capable of high speed and able to operate in all types of weather and off-shore conditions.
Dr. Jerome said the ambulance boat will be back in service within the next week. Until that time, the Department of Health has retained the services of a private company to provide transport services. The DOH EMS staff will provide their normal duties onboard. The back-up boat will be positioned on the island of St. John.