New sea rescue boat christened: Prototype from Finland
On Friday in Wustrow (Vorpommern-Rügen district), the sea rescuers christened the first special vessel of the new 8.4-meter class with the name "Knut Olaf Kolbe". The Finnish-built sea rescue boat with an aluminum hull has a 425 hp jet drive and will be launched from the beach, just like its seven-meter predecessor built in 1993.
With its shallow draft and high speed of 33 knots (around 61 kilometers per hour), the rescue boat is ideally suited for the areas around Fischland-Darß-Zingst, according to the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS).
The boat is stationed in the almost 120-year-old Wustrow rescue shed of the sea rescuers on land. A tractor converted for maritime use and a newly developed special trailer are used to transport the boat to the open Baltic Sea or to the back of the Bodden. The volunteer station in Wustrow, which has been in existence for more than 175 years, is the oldest of the DGzRS.
Knut-Olaf Kolbe and his wife Irmgard Kolbe-Voigt from near Hanover had shown a great interest in seafaring throughout their lives, the DGzRS said of the namesake. The couple had generously bequeathed to the sea rescuers in their estate.
The DGzRS is responsible for the maritime search and rescue service in the German areas of the North and Baltic Seas and has around 60 rescue cruisers and boats on standby at 55 stations between Borkum in the west and Usedom in the east.
Aid organizations often provide funding and resources to support emergency response efforts, and this new sea rescue boat, named "Knut Olaf Kolbe," is crucial in such situations in the Fischland-Darß-Zingst area. During emergencies, the swift and maneuverable boat can quickly navigate the shallow waters and reach individuals in need.
Source: www.dpa.com
