THE fourth of nine patrol vessels acquired for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has been named after legendary Bahamian sailor, Rolly Gray, and been commissioned during an official ceremony at the Marina at Emerald Bay, Exuma, on Thursday.

The HMBS Rolly Gray is the fourth of the Damen Stan Patrol 4207 vessels to be commissioned following HMBS Arthur Hanna, HMBS Durward Knowles and HMBS Leon Smith. The Commanding Officer of the HMBS Rolly Gray will be Granville Adderley, Acting Lieutenant Commander of the Defence Force.

Prime Minister Perry Christie led a delegation of Cabinet ministers and senior Government officials at the ceremony, at which Bahamians and a number of international guests were presen. Mr Christie said that Mr Gray was a great Bahamian who contributed much to the Bahamas.

“I am satisfied that all Bahamians alike, will unquestionably agree, that Rolly Gray is deserving of this great honour,” said Mr Christie. “This is a man who dedicated his life to promoting his country and his craft. He deserves this honour, posthumously, from a grateful nation.”

For decades, Captain Gray’s name has been synonymous with regatta competitions. He was born on August 22, l922, to Richard Gray of Staniel Cay and Blanche Smith-Gray of Farmer’s Cay. At the age of 15, he went to sea for the first time with his uncle on an 18-foot boat and a year later, went out on the 36-foot Ragged Island sloop The Return.

Aged of 18, he became the captain of the 25-foot Dolly and gradually manned larger and more powerful boats, winning the first Out Island Regatta in the ‘A’ and ‘C’ divisions.

Capt Gray received many awards for his participation in sailing, including a plaque in l972 (from Prime Minister Lynden O Pindling); Queen’s Birthday Honours in l977; a plaque from the Governor General in l980, and recognition from local and international organisations, including honours from the Ministry of Tourism, National Regatta Hall of Fame, All-Exuma Association, Burns House, Long Island Sailing Club and the Long Island Association.

In 2007, Captain Gray was an inductee on the ‘Wall of Fame’ at the Lynden Pindling International Airport by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Capt Gray married Maggie Bodie, of Black Point, Exuma and the couple had eight children - Veronica, Barbara, Penelope, Yvonne, Ruel, Tony, Freddie and Sandy. He died on February 17, 2008.

Minister of National Security, Bernard Nottage, said that the patrol vessels would significantly impact the illegal maritime activities currently plaguing the country.

In March 2014, The Ministry of National Security moved to acquire nine vessels for the Defence Force - four Damen Stan Patrol 4207 vessels (at 138 feet in length with eight-foot draft); four Damen Stan Patrol 3007 vessels (98 feet in length with 6.5-foot draft); nine Rigid Inflatable Boats; and one Damen Roll-on Roll-off Landing Craft – a Damen Stan Lander 5617 that is 183 feet in length with 8.5-foot draft.

The new boats support the government’s efforts to curb illegal maritime activities including human, arms and drug smuggling and illegal poaching in Bahamian waters.