INUVIK - A new boat is now policing the waters of the Mackenzie Delta and the Beaufort Sea.

The RCMP christened its new patrol vessel - the aluminum cabin cuddy known as Aklavik III - at Inuvik's boat launch on Aug. 5.

The RCMP's new patrol vessel, Aklavik III, is part of a Northern security marine patrol called Operation Gateway. It was christened in Inuvik on Aug. 5 before starting off on its maiden voyage to Herschel Island. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

Retired Inuvik RCMP officer Gerry Kisoun smashed a bottle of champagne against the boat's hull to officially christen the vessel, as Supt. Grant St. Germaine recounted a brief history of its predecessors, the Aklavik and Aklavik II, which the RCMP used for Mackenzie Delta patrols in the 1940s and 1950s.

RCMP Sgt. Wayne Norris said the use of the new boat will allow RCMP to better patrol the area.

"For obvious reasons, we have members that are responding to calls for service that are marine in nature and they'll have the resource available to them," he said. "It's essential that we have those resources to allow us to get out ... into the areas that need to be patrolled."

The vessel, which cost $120,000 and was approved under Transport Canada's Arctic Integrated Marine Security System, embarked on its maiden voyage to Herschel Island on Aug. 6 as part of the RCMP's Operation Gateway, a marine patrol mission along the Mackenzie River and delta. The Hay River-based RCMP patrol vessel Mackenzie accompanied Aklavik III on the three-day patrol and returned earlier this week.

The new boat will be stationed in Inuvik for RCMP to use for patrols and marine emergencies. Police will also use the boat to help federal agencies, including the Canadian Coast Guard, Canada Border Services Agency and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

- with files from Andrew Rankin