Printer Friendly
Email a Friend
seawork Debut for Fire & Rescue Boat
01 Sep 2004
Some one and a half years of close collaboration between Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Portchester UK based boatbuilders VTHalmatic came to fruitition at seawork 2004 with the appearance on the floating pontoon of a first of type, purpose-built fire and rescue boat. This variant of an RTK6065 had successfully completed trials before seawork and was delivered to the Service two days after the show on 26 June.
The trailerable craft is now based at Newcastle upon Tyne and will cover both the rivers Tyne and Wear as well as further afield in the northeast of England as required. Replacing an aluminium workboat, the new boat will attend approximately 100 incidents per year with a workload split roughly 75% rescue and 25% fire fighting.
The RTK 6065 provides a fast and stable work platform with a large working deck which can carry a crew of five fire fighters and six rescued persons. Low freeboard makes it easy to pull people on board and the cathedral hull provides huge stability while such rescues are being performed.
Powered by twin 90hp Honda outboard engines, the vessel is capable of 33 knots light and 29 knots laden with equipment.
Fire fighting equipment includes a quick release light portable pump which can be taken ashore if required.
A built-in communications system allows the helmeted crew to communicate with one another, other fire personnel not on board, and other rescue services such as the Coast Guard.VT Halmatic has provided training to the boat's crew as part of an operational and maintenance package.
VT Halmatic has also finalised an agreement with US based Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) that will see the pair market each other's products throughout the world. For VT Halmatic, the agreement provides a valuable entry into the US market, with Brunswick marketing the UK company's full product range of military, paramilitary and commercial craft. Brunswick, which previously built vessels up to 36ft in length, expands its scope of supply and can now offer Halmatic designs of up to 120ft.
The companies will now market a range of craft from 13ft to 120ft, related spare parts for civil and military agencies, and after-sales technical support.
MJ Information No: 19807
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2008. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
Related products
For more information on products mentioned within this article visit
