RAnger 3900 Class fireboat for China from Robert Allan Ltd.

April 18, 2007

In February 2007, the new RAnger 3900 Class fireboat Guan Xiao Yi Hao was delivered to the Port Authority of Dongguan, China by the builder, Wang Tak Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong. The vessel was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, BC and is one of the first of that company’s new RAnger Series emergency response vessels.

The new fast response fireboats are designed to specifically address the fire-fighting and rescue needs of the local port area, which is contained entirely within the local river estuary. Consequently the fireboat has both water depth and air draft constraints, the latter to deal with numerous local bridges.

The new fireboats have the following particulars:

The tank capacities are as follows:

The fireboats are designed for a response speed of 15 knots, with a low-wake, 11 to 12 knot cruising/patrol speed. The powering, sea-keeping, and wake generation characteristics of the semi-displacement hull form were all verified in an extensive model-testing program. On trials, the vessels achieved a full load speed of 16 knots.

The installed propulsion power is 2 x 1118 kW from two CAT 3512B main engines. Propellers are fixed pitch, driven through a pair of ZF Model W4610 reduction gears with a 3.5:1 reduction ratio.The fire-fighting equipment for the new fireboats, which is effectively a Fi-Fi 1 International Standard, comprises the following:

• Fire pumps
  • 2 x 1,500 m³/hr each, driven through a power take-off on the front of each main engine
• Fire monitors
  • water only—2 x 1,500 m³/hr
  • water/foam—2 x 600 m³/hr

The RAnger 3900 Class fireboat, illustrated in the attached General Arrangement drawing and photographs, has the following configuration.

• Bridge deck
  • wheelhouse arranged with maximum, all-round visibility, including an elevated Engineer’s control station aft of the main console
  • Master’s stateroom
• Main deck
  • command centre—a sophisticated communications centre/meeting room for coordinating on-scene activities with land based resources
  • fire equipment room—outfitted to store hoses, fittings, rescue equipment, etc. accessed by a 2 metre wide double-door
  • small meeting room/office
  • pantry
  • lavatory facilities
  • large water level rescue platform for casualty recovery
  • rescue boat arranged for rapid deployment
  • crane fitted with telescoping ladder for high level water stream and access
  • large working deck areas with generous access along house sides
  • multiple hydrant outlets for water supply to shore systems
• Below deck
  • a spacious engine room with full walking height access to all machinery
  • machinery control room
  • crew accommodations, outfitted to house up to eight (8) live-aboard crew or provide rest area in the event of extended operations

The Dongguan fireboat is one of the largest and most capable boats in the region, and has sparked interest in several other communities in China with similar fire protection needs.

For more information on this new vessel, or any other RAnger Series emergency response vessels, contact us.