WELCOMING VILLI PÁLS - THE NEW RESCUE BOAT
Last Friday, the 22nd of September, Húsavík celebrated the arrival of Villi Páls, the new boat of the local search and rescue team “Björgunarsveitin Garðar”.
With a length of about 11 metres, Villi Páls is larger than the previous rescue boat Jón Kjartansson and capable of handling more challenging weather and sea conditions than its predecessor. With the purchase of the new boat, the search and rescue team is aiming to improve the safety at sea, specifically of Skjálfandaflói – the bay right outside Húsavík. Villi Páls ensures the ability of the rescue team to carry out the assigned tasks here in the area and further out, to quickly respond to emergency calls and to carry out search and rescue missions efficiently.
Many locals came down to the harbour area Friday afternoon to await the arrival of Villi Páls and to welcome the new boat which then docked on the Gentle Giants pier. The arrival was followed by a ceremony down by our pier in which Villi Páls officially received the name and was blessed by Húsavík’s priest Sólveig Halla Kristjánsdóttir.
SAFETY AT SEA IS OUR TOP PRIORITY
In the last decade, boat traffic in Skjálfandi Bay has increased enormously – that is due to whale watching, cruise ships, coastal fishing and cargo ships. Therefore, it is important that the local rescue team is capable of being equal to the emergency if needed.
Gentle Giants has had very successful cooperation with the Garðar rescue team for many years, both offering our RIB speedboats for use in emergency search and rescue missions as well as long-term financial support to the rescue team. Along with Landsbjörg the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, Norðurþing municipality and other few local companies, Gentle Giants takes an active part in financing the new rescue vessel Villi Páls.
We believe safety is of greatest importance when operating our tours and whilst our crew is professionally trained in safety at sea as well as regularly practicing safety during rescue drills, we think it is important that the local search and rescue team Garðar is properly equipped for any emergency that could arise. The role of the search and rescue team is vital for all of us, locals as much as visitors and only together with Garðar, we are able to ensure maximum safety for our passengers and crew at sea.
ABOUT GARÐAR AND VILLI PÁLS
Villi Páls was named after Vilhjálmur Pálsson, one of the founders of the Garðar rescue team and its chairman for 22 years.
The rescue team was founded in 1959 following an accident at sea during which the vessel Mái TH194 and two men perished at sea. In light of this event, Vilhjálmur Pálsson (called Villi Páls) called in a meeting during which 18 men decided to found a society that then became the Garðar rescue team.
Villi Páls, who is now over 90 years old, also came down to the pier Friday afternoon to welcome the rescue team’s new boat and later on, held a speech himself during which he reminded on and underlined the importance of the rescue team and its capabilities.
We welcome Villi Páls to its new home port Húsavík and wish the boat and crew all the best!
Gentle Giants staff Daniel and Stefán together with members of the Garðar rescue team celebrating the arrival of the new boat Villi Páls as well as signing a new long-term sponsorship agreement. Here Stefán Guðmundsson, owner and CEO of Gentle Giants, shaking hands with Birgir Mikaelsson, chairman of Garðar rescue team.
The arrival of Villi Páls was followed by a ceremony down by our pier in which Villi Páls officially received the name and was blessed by Húsavík’s priest Sólveig Halla Kristjánsdóttir.
