VESSEL REVIEW | Dresden & Prag – Hybrid firefighting vessels enter service at Port of Hamburg

The Damen Shipyards Group has handed over two firefighting vessels to Flotte Hamburg, a subsidiary of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) tasked with implementing low-emission shipping in the city. With 315kWh of battery capacity, the plug-in hybrid vessels are capable of extended fully-electric operations in and around the Port of Hamburg. Prag will be operated by Hamburg's fire service while Dresden will support the HPA, the fire service, and other third parties.

Damen said the vessels are completely new designs fitted out to the latest standards. Measuring 35.5 by 7.8 metres and with a maximum speed of 12 knots, they boats are equipped to not just fight fires in the port and within the city itself. Their compact size also enables them to undertake other activities including water supply, rescue and recovery, technical assistance and environmental protection, in addition to allowing them to operate in narrower and shallower harbour areas.

With their ability to lower their wheelhouses and with a draught of just 1.5 metres, they can also undertake bridge inspections and maintenance within the city, as well as serve locations that larger vessels would be unable to reach.

Additional versatility comes from the ability to position mission containers on deck for additional firefighting equipment and day accommodations for up to 16 firefighters. The installed FiFi systems include remote operation capability, foam pump and control systems, a pre-wetting system, a water spray system around the vessels, and internal firefighting capability using a Stat-X aerosol fire suppression system. The extinguishing capacity of each vessel is set at 30,000 litres per minute while the discharge distance of foam or water from the monitors is around 110 metres.

The climate-controlled wheelhouse and dayroom can accommodate up to six crew.

The vessels' diesel-electric propulsion systems includes DNV-certified lithium-ion battery packs provided by EST-Floattech. A full charge of the batteries, whether via a shore power connection or through the onboard diesel generators, will enable full-electric sailings at average speeds for up to four hours. The batteries also come with independent management systems, fireproof housing, and venting systems for use whenever thermal runaway occurs.

Each boat is equipped with two SRP 190 rudder propellers and an STT 170 bow thruster, all supplied by Schottel. A Navis Engineering dynamic positioning system is also installed.

The hulls for the vessels were fabricated at Damen Shipyards Kozle in Poland and then transported to Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands for completion.

Click here for more news stories, feature articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month's focus on emergency services vessels.