Best Medium SAR Boat – Orinoco (Photo: Baltic Workboats)
Best Medium SAR Boat – Orinoco (Photo: Baltic Workboats)

VESSEL REVIEW | Orinoco – North Sea rescue boat for Flemish transport company

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Flemish government-owned inland waterway transport operator DAB Vloot has taken delivery of a new aluminium-hulled, all weather-capable rescue boat from Baltic Workboats of Estonia.

Orinoco has an LOA of 20.5 metres, a beam of six metres, and a draught of 1.1 metres. The hull features a wave-piercing bow and interceptors to enhance stability and improve operating efficiency even at high speeds.

Two Volvo Penta D16 551kW engines drive Kongsberg KaMeWa S40 waterjets via ZF 500 gearboxes to deliver a speed of 25 knots and a range of 300 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots. A Sleipner Side Power bow thruster is also fitted.

<em>Photo: Baltic Workboats</em>
Photo: Baltic Workboats

Onboard space is available for three crewmembers and up to 29 rescued survivors including five stretcher-bound people. The wheelhouse is configured so that any noise heard from the outside is reduced to a moderate 58 dB even as the boat is cruising at over 20 knots. The coxswain and another crewmember are seated on two Shoxs suspension helm seats from Allsalt Maritime.

The electronics suite includes two Furuno radars, a Teledyne FLIR rotating thermal camera, and other electronics from Simrad and Jotron. Electrical power is supplied by a Kohler 9EFKOZD 9kW generator. The accommodation spaces are fully air-conditioned and include a small berthing compartment and a toilet.

<em>Photo: Baltic Workboats</em>
Photo: Baltic Workboats

Orinoco is also equipped to perform firefighting duties and towing of vessels of similar size. For enhanced emergency response capability, the boat is fitted with an aft hydraulic platform, a lookout position, rescue nets, and port and starboard MOB davits. Although DAB Vloot's primary jurisdiction encompasses inland waterways, the new rescue boat is built for operation in coastal areas and even in the offshore waters of the North Sea, often in partnership with local volunteer rescue organisations. The boat also has self-righting ability.

Orinoco, which is built to Lloyd's Register class rules, replaces an older rescue boat in the DAB Vloot fleet. It is homeported at the Western Flemish coastal city of Ostend.

<em>Photo: Baltic Workboats</em>
Photo: Baltic Workboats
Orinoco
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:Rescue boat
Classification:Lloyd's Register
Port of registry:Ostend, Belgium
Flag:Belgium
Owner:DAB Vloot, Belgium
Builder:Baltic Workboats, Estonia
Hull construction material:Aluminium
Length overall:20.5 metres
Beam:6.0 metres
Draught:1.1 metres
Main engines:2 x Volvo Penta D16, each 551 kW
Gearboxes:2 x ZF 500
Propulsion:2 x Kongsberg KaMeWa S40 waterjets
Generator:Kohler 9EFKOZD, 9.0 kW
Side thruster:Sleipner Side Power
Maximum speed:25 knots
Cruising speed:20 knots
Range:300 nautical miles
Radars:2 x Furuno
Night vision:Teledyne FLIR
Other electronics:Simrad; Jotron
Seating:2 x Allsalt Maritime Shoxs
Safety equipment:Rescue nets; MOB davits
Firefighting equipment:Monitor
Accommodation:Berthing compartment; toilet
Crew:3
Passengers:29
Operational area:North Sea, Belgium
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Baird Maritime / Work Boat World
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