Seven SAR vessels contract win for Maritime Partner

Its long-standing customer, the Danish Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), has ordered the SJØBJØRN 71 vessels as part of an ongoing renewal of its existing fleet of rescue vessels.

“The renewal will give the Coastal Rescue Service a significant boost in its ability to solve the entire spectrum of tasks under the Ministry of Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness,” said DALO commander Steen Balslev.

The 21.7m long vessels will be built to the proven A2000 hull design, said senior vice president Sales & Marketing Henrik Myklebust, with updates.

“We’ve used the hull design for 20-30 years,” he said. “The super structure is new, more modern, with new technology and equipment.”

As well as the self-righting feature, which works even with a damaged wheelhouse, safety features include fire-fighting system and full redundancy.

The vessels achieve a range of more than 350nm and a speed of 35 knots with two 1200kW engines with waterjets, fitting IMO Tier III, and they support the transition to sustainable energy sources – though this will be tricky, Myklebust admits.

“It’s a challenge. Everyone feels responsible for making boats as clean as possible and we try to use the most modern engines available at the moment,” he said. “It’s more up to the engine suppliers to make it more compatible, but at the moment the best fuels are diesel or HVO. Batteries are tricky on boats that require high speed and long range, because of the weight.” 

Maritime Partner says it has built some 2,300 vessels since the company was launched in 1994, many in the rescue boat sector. 

The vessels will have a towing capacity of nine tons and can accommodate five crew.