First search & rescue boat for ICE-SAR
Kewatec Shipyards has launched the first of three rescue boats in Iceland for testing.
The boats are being built for the Icelandic Search and Rescue Association.
Kewatec Shipyards signed an agreement with the (ICE-SAR, Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg) a year ago to build three 17m self-righting Kewatec Serecradt SAR 17s and construction begain in Kokkola last October.
“The launch was a success despite the traffic jam with several boats at the dock this summer,” said Jesper Häggblom, Project Manager at Kewatec.
The €5.7 million three boats are just a start – under the terms of the agreement signed in July 2021, a further 10 vessels are planned for the fleet over the next few years.
”The highly demanding sea conditions in Iceland and the North Atlantic place tough demands on the vessels. We are proud to have this contract and confidence from an Icelandic, experienced operator and, at the same time, humble in the face of local forces of nature,” said Sales Director Jari Ahoranta.
ICE-SAR is a national association of rescue units and accident prevention divisions that includes 99 rescue units, 70 accident prevention units and approximately 10,000 volunteers. It operates in most Icelandic cities.
