Hellenic Coast Guard to get five additional ambulance boats

The Greek Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy has awarded Viking Life-Saving Equipment a contract for the construction of five new ambulance boats that will be sister vessels of three earlier craft currently operated by the Hellenic Coast Guard.

The 11.95-metre FRP-hulled boats will be operated by the coast guard to support emergency services for Sporades, Samothrace, the Saronic Gulf, and the Ionian Islands. All five will be built in Greece according to RINA class rules.

The boats will each have capacity for 10 people and two Volvo Penta 566kW diesel engines that will ensure a range of 350 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 35 knots. Operations will be possible even under Beaufort force eight conditions and wave heights of up to four metres.