German sea rescue organisation christens newest boat

The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger; DGzRS) formally named the newest vessel to join its fleet of rescue boats in a ceremony on Sunday, April 7.

Helene is the latest example in a series of 8.9-metre rescue boats that also includes SRB 86, which was delivered to the DGzRS in September of last year. All boats in the series were built by Arctic Airboats of Finland.

Helene will be operated out of the DGzRS station on the island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea. Like its sisters, the vessel is a rigid buoyant boat with a hull made of welded HDPE and possessing semi-self-righting capability as well as greater space and fewer maintenance requirements compared to a rigid inflatable boat (RIB).

Two 149kW four-stroke outboards propel the boat to a maximum speed of 38 knots. Semi-self-righting ability is made possible through the installation of an inflatable bag at the stern.

Space is also available for emergency equipment such as first aid kids, stretchers, and portable fire extinguishers.