FRC ENHANCEMENTS

Over the last few months Dutch Special Marine Group’s designer P. Meuzelaar has developed a new range of Fast Rescue Craft, the FRC 602, FRC 702 and FRC 803. The company describes it as ‘a small series of standardised craft to keep the costs low and require less spare-parts’.

This new range is based on the proven FRC 903 design, but specifically, built and equipped to comply with the SOLAS requirements. The FRC 903 is the company’s most popular rescue craft, and is designed and manufactured according to Bureau Veritas Classification Society to meet the strict requirements of the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM).

The largest visible change in the design is the position of the navigation mast. In order to install the singe-lift hook system, the mast (which provides a mounting point for the self-righting system) has been moved aft. Another feature is the optimised hull shape, which DSMG says will give a smoother ride through rough seas.

The FRCs are built by Habbeké Shipyard of seawater resistant Aluminium (5083- H111), the hull is a fully planing, deep V type and has a low freeboard aft to facilitate rescue operations, is self-bailing, has sufficient deck space to transport a stretcher, is semi self-righting, has a robust foam fender and is supplied with diesel inboard engine(s) with water jet propulsion unit(s). The Henriksen single-lift hook system allows DSMG’s FRCs to be launched from a mother ship even in heavy seas.

The Fast Rescue Crafts are designed and tested in accordance to latest Bureau Veritas, SOLAS and UKOOA requirements. Standard propulsion is provided by a combination of Volvo Penta engines with ZF gearboxes, driving UltraJet waterjets. The same combination that has been proven on the Fast Rescue Craft 903.

By Jake Frith

Link: https://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/vessel-build-and-maintenance/ship-and-boatbuilding/frc-enhancements