Emergency services vessels, for fire, search, rescue, salvage and more, are another busy sector of the naval architecture and boatbuilding world. The boats being launched are generally faster, more durable and more versatile as well as being easier to maintain.
The governments and civil/community SAR services that normally purchase such craft are gradually becoming more knowledgeable and more demanding. That, increasingly, makes the craft that they order more versatile and generally better value.
This week, Baird Maritime presents several such boats and details of their designs and equipment. The ideas thus presented are sourced globally and show the very latest as to what is on offer to the sector.
The development and improvement seen by the sector over the past couple of decades has been mind-boggling. Looking back to the 1990s, which isn't that long ago, it is incredible how primitive craft with similar roles then look now.
Hull shapes and construction methods and materials have changed. So have engines, propulsion systems, pumps and navigational and communications electronics. The wheelhouses of some of the new SAR boats look like something from a science fiction movie.
Featuring here this week are three quite different craft, two from the southern hemisphere and one from the north. Two are "smallish" fast SAR craft of 8.3 and 11.3 metres length. One vessel is designed for cold weather, open ocean work and the other is for tropical, shallow inshore waters.
Both the above are from well-established designers and builders. The smaller, Yamaha outboard-powered vessel, Cape Rose, is a Southerly Designs/Dongara Marine project that is intended to be the first of many similar simple coastal SAR/patrol boats. The other, from the New Zealand combination of Naiad designs and Aimex, is more complex with twin Yanmar diesel engines delivering their power through Hamilton waterjets.
The other featured vessel is more multi-purpose. It is a fast aluminium FiFi/SAR craft with a bow ramp to increase its versatility. Built, very stylishly, in Finland by Kewatec AluBoat, it will operate on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne. It is 14 metres long by four metres in the beam and is powered by two Volvo Penta diesel DuoProps.
As usual, of course, there is much more to come this week in terms of design, construction and equipping of emergency services vessels. To keep up with the latest, keep reading Baird Maritime.
– "Ships sinking actually cost the insurers money, whereas for the owners the loss of a vessel is often just an inconvenience and some more paperwork, even when seafarers have perished."
– by Hieronymus Bosch, anonymous commentator and Baird Maritime's insider in the world of offshore oil and gas operations
– "Proponents of autonomous tugs continue to bombard us with good and not-so-good reasons for getting rid of our crews."
– by Alan Loynd, former General Manager of the renowned Hong Kong Salvage and Towage company
Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!
Any news or views about the global emergency services industries? Send it through to editor@baird.com.au ASAP (between now and July 30), so we can add it to this current edition of Emergency Services Week!
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