A formal christening of the South Whidbey Fire/EMS new fire boat begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at South Whidbey Harbor in Langley.

The event opens with a welcome from Chief Rusty Palmer, followed by the christening and a demonstration of the vessel’s abilities. The boat’s name, which was chosen from suggestions by community members, will also be revealed during the ceremony.

The 32-foot emergency response vessel was commissioned to provide fire protection and marine rescue services for 57 miles of South Whidbey shoreline.

“This boat will allow the department to provide a higher level of service to our seaside communities, give us the ability to respond faster, and provide a safer platform for our responders to work from,” said Palmer, in a news release.

The boat was built by a local Whidbey Island business, North Cross Aluminum, and will be moored in Langley.