New rescue boats have been delivered to operators in Romania, Finland, and New South Wales in Australia while patrol craft are entering service in Belgium and the United States.
Romania's ARSVOM expands rescue boat fleet
Romanian search and rescue (SAR) agency ARSVOM has taken delivery of two new response boats from Baltic Workboats of Estonia.
The 18.6-metre Phoenix and the 23.9-metre Ares both feature Baltic Workboats' patented wave-piercing hull design and are based on proven platforms delivered to operators in Belgium, Estonia, and Romania.
The newbuilds are designed with special SAR features such as rescue davits with rescue nets on both sides, daughter boats, helicopter winching areas, and remotely controlled FiFi monitors.
Finnish Lifeboat Institute takes delivery of locally-built vessels
Finland's Kewatec Aluboat has delivered two new rescue boats in a series to the Finnish Lifeboat Institute's stations in Kuopio and Inkoo.
The 10-metre boats are each powered by two outboard engines that deliver a maximum speed of over 40 knots. The vessels also have limited firefighting and first aid capability.
Each boat also has a hydraulically opening bow ramp for loading and unloading during beach landings and patient recovery.
Shallow-draught boat delivered to US Border Patrol
Alaska boat builder ReconCraft has delivered a new shallow-draught river patrol craft to the US Customs and Border Protection.
The boat is the final one of 12 in a series to be built for the US Border Patrol for use in the waters of America's southern states.
Missions will include counter-narcotics patrols, counter human trafficking patrols, law enforcement, SAR, and disaster response.
Antwerp Police puts Dutch-built response craft into service
Belgium's Antwerp Police has begun operating a new patrol and emergency response craft.
Named Argus 22 after a Greek mythological figure, the vessel is powered by a single Yamaha outboard engine and is fitted with tow posts and a rotating camera.
The vessel is also the first newbuild boat to enter service with the Antwerp Police in 30 years. It will be operated primarily in the waters of the city's Het Eilandje community.
Argus 22 was built by Stormer Marine of the Netherlands.
Marine Rescue New South Wales' Broken Bay unit gets new boat
Australian SAR agency Marine Rescue New South Wales has welcomed a new SAR rigid inflatable boat (RIB) into service.
Designed by New Zealand's Naiad and built by Yamba Welding and Engineering, the 7.5-metre boat has a split console that allows crews to easily and safely move from the rear to the front of the vessel without needing to walk along the collars.
The RIB will be operated by Marine Rescue NSW's Broken Bay unit alongside an existing 10-metre Naiad boat.
