Viking Life-Saving Equipment of Denmark has been awarded a contract for the construction of 11 ambulance boats in a series for use by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Eight earlier boats from the same series were delivered by Viking to the coast guard from 2020 to 2022.
Like their earlier sisters, the new ambulance boats will each have a hull made from fire-retardant FRP, an LOA of 11.95 metres, and a beam of 3.51 metres. An HVAC-equipped cabin in the bow will feature a toilet plus seating for two patients, a doctor, and two nurses or emergency medical technicians. Shock-mitigating seats will be available for up to 10 people including the two crewmembers.
The onboard medical area, which is also the largest compartment on each vessel, will house an array of treatment and life-support devices including a defibrillator, a ventilator, an oximeter, an oxygen supply system, a laryngoscope, splints, and even surgical tools. When not in use, these devices are to be stored in lockers that have also been fitted in the equipment area.
The vessels will all utilise an existing Viking oil rig daughter craft design that has been modified for the medical evacuation role. Certified by classification society RINA, the boats are designed to be able to operate safely under Beaufort Force eight conditions and at wave heights of up to four metres.
