The St John marine ambulance ‘Flying Christine III’ celebrates her 25th birthday at the end of November 2019.

The Flying Christine III was officially named and launched by HRH The Duke of Gloucester at a ceremony on 28th November 1994 and is the third marine ambulance to serve the Bailiwick.

This unique vessel was built by Seaward Boats in Guernsey and is equipped like an emergency road ambulance to provide pre-hospital medical treatment capable of taking advanced paramedic care to patients in the other islands of the Bailiwick and transporting casualties to Guernsey for further treatment.

The marine ambulance, which has been described as an essential lifeline for the islands, is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year from St Peter Port harbour and is operated by volunteer boat crew from the local maritime community and medical clinicians from the emergency ambulance service.

The Flying Christine III was built thanks to donations from individuals, charitable groups, corporate bodies and institutions, and the vessel relies on public contributions to continue its service.

She is 46 foot in length, designed with the wheelhouse well forward and the engine to the stern to accommodate a large treatment area and stretcher. The doors are deigned to allow easy access for a stretcher from both sides.

The Flying Christine III took part in the Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in 2012.

The original Flying Christine was a converted passenger vessel and was launched in 1952. It was the world’s first marine ambulance. Flying Christine II served the Bailiwick from 1964 to 1994.