VESSEL REVIEW | Strazak-28 – Polish port authority’s new firefighting vessel boasts ice navigation capability

Poland’s Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports Authority recently introduced a new ice-capable firefighting vessel into service.

Built at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk, the vessel has been appropriately named Strazak-28 (“Firefighter-28”). It is the third vessel to join the seaports authority’s fleet of fireboats, which are also designed for operation in the harsh conditions of the southern Baltic Sea.

The newbuild has a length of 29.2 metres, a beam of 10.47 metres, a draught of 3.45 metres, and two pumps that can each discharge 2,700 cubic metres of water or foam per minute via three monitors mounted fore and aft of the wheelhouse. The firefighting equipment, as well as their associated wheelhouse electronics, was supplied by Fire Fighting Systems.

The vessel will also be used for oil spill response, search and rescue (SAR), maritime safety patrols, and limited towing duties. A bollard pull of 45 tonnes and a free running speed of 12 knots can be achieved thanks to two diesel engines and an ASD propulsion arrangement.

The deck equipment includes a Melcal crane while the interiors are fitted with lights from Remontowa Technical Lighting. The lights themselves are made partly from explosion-proof material for greater crew safety. Other safety features include a positive pressure system to minimise the presence of hazardous gases in the interior spaces as well as a citadel. Among the compartments is one dedicated to housing rescued accident survivors.

The wheelhouse provides improved 360-degree visibility and features a split helm console to enable crews to operate the vessel while seated facing either fore or aft. The wheelhouse electronics also include equipment from Zollner and Siemens.

Strazak-28 will be operated as a standby response vessel whenever tankers conduct loading and unloading of flammable gases and liquids as well as other hazardous materials at the ports of Szczecin and Swinoujscie.

Design work on the vessel was done in compliance to Polish Register of Shipping rules.