Kewatec Shipyards wins 6th Icelandic rescue vessel order

It follows the recent delivery of vessel number four in the series, Björg, which is the latest addition to ICE-SAR’s fleet and a Rescue 1700 class vessel from Kewatec’s portfolio. It will be based at Rifi, Snæfellsnes in Iceland and replaces a rescue boat of the same name built originally for the UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1988, now 36 years old.

The Rescue 1700 is a self-righting search and rescue craft that complies with latest international and local workboat regulations, including meeting Norwegian classification society DNV’s standards.

Main dimensions include: length overall 17.1m, beam overall 4.8m and a draught of 0.9m. The vessel has a cruising speed of 26kn and maximum speed 33kn.

Main engines are twin Scania D113 diesels, each developing 750hp and powering Hamilton HJ403 waterjets via ZF 400 Supershift 2 gearboxes. Fuel capacity is 1,800 litres in total and a Solé Diesel 17 GTC genset is included in the machinery outfit.

Björg’s home of Iceland naturally demands an appropriate working environment for both the crew and the vessel itself, including in the wheelhouse, which has seating for six persons and spaces for two stretchers.

Heating (for all spaces) comprises warm water circulation from the main engines, defrosters for windows, a diesel air-heater and electric heating radiator powered by shore power.

Suppliers of the vessel’s on-board equipment include: fire extinguishing system by FirePro and Kolmeks KM-32 fire pump combined with a Delta Fire DF1900 monitor; Maxwell RC12 anchor winch; Speich windscreen wipers; and Manuplus 250mm foam-filled fenders.

Björg has a man-overboard rescue lift with winch and a Dacon rescue frame. Other life-saving appliances include two six-person life-rafts from Viking.

The standard wheelhouse fit-out is typical of such modern small craft of this type, including radar, satellite compass, AIS, loud hailer, echo sounder and autopilot, all supplied by Furuno. Three 27” Hatteland displays, two Luminell searchlights and a Flir M364C thermal camera are also listed in the Rescue 1700 specification.

Extensive portfolio

With roots dating back to the 1970s, Kokkola, Finland-based Kewatec Shipyards may not have the longest history compared to some boatbuilders but in its (relatively) short history has built an extensive catalogue of vessels aimed at specialist, niche markets.

Its ‘Civil Security and Defence’ portfolio has 48 designs, including seven rescue craft as exampled in the Björg, from 9.4m to 17m LOA, three ambulance designs and 10 patrol craft examples.

Vessel designs in its ‘Infrastructure’ portfolio total 28 in the pilot boat, workboat, survey and passenger vessel categories.

Kewatec’s ‘Defence’ catalogue offers a diverse range of craft from landing craft and bridge erection boats to multi-purpose support vessels and fast patrol boats, all aimed at the military market.

It is notable that most examples of all of the above featured on its website indicate craft actually completed and in service, rather than proposed designs capable of being built.

ICE-SAR

Iceland’s ICE-SAR is a non-profit organisation with more than 100 years of history. It can call on more than 4,500 volunteers to assist in search and rescue and injury prevention activities that are not restricted to water-borne incidents. It has around 100 teams available for rescue work, including on land, such as mountain rescue activities.

Educational injury prevention programmes are included in ICE-SAR’s remit. A youth group section allows the younger generation to become acquainted with its work with a view to becoming volunteers for all sections of the organisation, perhaps experiencing vessels such as the Björgas part of their development.