Emergency Service Vessel News Roundup | February 16 – Norwegian ambulance catamarans, Saudi fireboat orders and more

Deliveries include a rescue boat for an Australian volunteer organisation, a firefighting launch for a government operator in the US state of Virginia, and two ambulance boats for a Norwegian shipping company. A Russian rescue and patrol vessel is unveiled for the first time. Finally, a Saudi customer places orders for new fireboats to be built in Norway.

Australia’s Marine Rescue NSW acquires 6.8-metre response vessel

The Alpine Lakes unit of Australian volunteer search and rescue (SAR) organisation Marine Rescue NSW has taken delivery of a new rescue boat built by local company Gray’s Marine and Welding.

Alpine Lakes 20 measures 6.8 metres long and is also capable of operating in inland waters. Two Suzuki outboard engines propel the boat to a top speed of 40 knots and service speeds of between 15 and 20 knots.

The electronics suit includes a Raymarine radar and a Teledyne FLIR rotating thermal camera.

New boat delivered to Virginia firefighting agency

Virginia’s Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) recently welcomed a new firefighting vessel to its fleet.

The 32-foot (9.75-metre) boat was built by Silver Ships of Mobile, Alabama. It will be operated in the waters of the City of Norfolk and the Port of Virginia.

The boat will be utilised for firefighting operations as well as water supply operations, water rescue emergencies, and patient transport and treatment. The vessel has a firefighting pump that can discharge up to 1,000 gallons ( litres) of water per minute and two Yamaha outboards that will deliver speeds in excess of 40 knots.

The fully enclosed pilothouse has Raymarine electronics and an overpressure air filtration system for operating in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) environments.

New ambulance boats enter service in Norway

Finnish boatbuilder Kewatec Aluboat has delivered two new catamaran ambulance boats in a series to Norwegian shipowner Bukser og Berging.

Helse Møre and Romsdal each have catamaran hulls, a length of 22.8 metres, a beam of 7.6 metres, space for 12 passengers, and a patients’ area that can also accommodate stretchers. Power is provided by two Volvo Penta D13 diesel engines driving Kongsberg KaMeWa waterjets.

Facilities on each boat include two toilets, a shower, and a galley.

Russian firm unveils new rescue/patrol vessel design

Russia’s state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and Krylov State Research Centre have completed design work on a new rescue vessel that will also be used for fisheries enforcement patrols.

The ice-capable design complies with Russian Maritime Register of Shipping rules.

Construction of the vessels will take place at one of USC’s subsidiary shipyards. Examples will be operated in Northern and Far Eastern Russia.

Norwegian builder secures fireboat orders from Saudi owner

Hydrolift, a boatbuilding company under the Eker Group of Norway, has been awarded a contract for the delivery of two firefighting boats in a series to Saudi Arabia-based property developer Red Sea Global.

Each vessel will have PTO-driven foam/water monitors, VHF radios, chart plotters, radars, thermal imaging cameras, and Kongsberg Maritime waterjets and DP technology.

The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered no later than March 2024.