This all started in 2011 when I first visited the BVI for the handover of a Parker 900 Baltic to the BVI Marine Police Unit. It was then I first saw and heard of VISAR. In 2015 during my second holiday in the BVI I managed to arrange a meeting with the chairman of VISAR to introduce Parker Ribs and see their facilities first hand. The official enquiry followed a year later. After many discussions, many optional proposals, two crucial demos in the UK one in the Solent and the other one in South Wales not to mention the tough competition from serious rib manufacturers we were successful in early August of 2017 in securing the order for the new VISAR Rib. Unfortunately, due to the extensive damage caused by hurricane IRMA and then MARIA we were asked to delay the production till the end of January 2018. At that time because of the destruction caused by both hurricanes, VISAR were not in a hurry to receive their new rib. The rib was finally delivered in September 2018 and on 5 November officially entered service. On the 3 November VISAR were celebrating their 30 anniversaries so this was an opportunity not to be missed. I just had to travel to the BVI. The new rescue craft a Parker 1000 Baltic powered by twin Yamaha 300 HP o/b engines is now known as “Spirit of Tortola”.
VISAR are an amazing voluntary organisation who receive no government funding and rely totally on donations from sponsors.
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https://www.facebook.com/visar.bvi/ and
Home - VISAR
This was our third visit to the BVI and even though it was a celebrating visit it was very sad to see so many boats still immersed in the water or on the banks where they were thrown by the force of the hurricanes. The rebuilding process is still an ongoing process as many locals not only lost their businesses but also their homes. It was great to see however that the charter companies were operating with the first charters of the season up and running.
...we saw some of the Caribean devistaion early in the year.
