Low-weight rescue boat stays lighter
Brude Safety's new HD720 ASI promises low repair and maintenance costs.
A different kind of fast-rescue boat is hitting the water. ' It may look like similar boats, but it' s not’ , said Knut Erik Håheim of Norwegian company Brude Safety AS.
As Mr Håheim told MJ, unexpected weight gain is a fairly common problem with the foam filled designs 'because foam usually attracts water, the boat gets heavier, which makes it less efficient. After awhile the boat with traditional foam in the hull can get so heavy that the weight is above the maximum capacity of the davit used.'
Thanks to its own low weight of just 1,890 kg, the new boat has an impressive payload. Top speed with a crew of three has been measured at 34 knots with a range of 100 nautical miles. While it is intended to carry six people fairly comfortably, it can actually accommodate up to 15.
Easy repair and low maintenance costs are a significant advantage. Mr Håheim explained, 'If you need to make hull repairs on a traditional boats with expanded foam in the hull, the foam normally has to be replaced, which is time consuming and expensive. We made the engine compartment bigger for access purposes, the crew seating comes up and you can reach everything from the back axle to the waterjets, all the major components are easy to get at.'
The 7.2m long and 2.4m wide rescue boat is said not only to have excellent reliability, manoeuvrability and seakeeping qualities, but is designed to be truly multipurpose. It can double as a dive support vessel and patrol boat as well as take on general workboat duties. Just one of the four watertight compartments is sufficient for keeping the vessel afloat.
The new vessel is designed and built according to SOLAS 83, amendment 96, LSO Code. Propulsion consists of a 220hp BUKH+Steyr SOLAS 236 and an Almarin 230 waterjet for the 34 knot top speed and a bollard pull of 450 kg.
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