New rescue boat Ostend ready to sail

The vessel is the latest addition to DAB Fleet. This shipping company manages about forty government vessels that are used for, among other things, the pilotage services, shipping police and customs.

“Need for new rescue vessel”

“There was an urgent need for a new rescue vessel,” said Daphne Vanhoucke, spokesman for DAB Fleet. “The new ORINOCO can reach a top speed of 45 km/h and is equipped to help with ship fires and environmental disasters. The special thermal cameras make searching for drowning persons a lot easier. In addition, there is sufficient space on board to accommodate sixteen people and to provide first medical aid.”

The Flemish government invested 2.5 million euros in the new ship. There is also the other vessel, the R6 Orca, as a reserve to deploy in major crisis situations.