ELITE tug

[aukepalmhof]

The Hong Kong fireboat ELITE is on the top left of a block of 4 stamps showing
fireboats. These stamps were issued as a `private' set from the Congo.

ELITE was built to replace the old Fireboat "Alexander Grantham" and was
commissioned on 12 May 2002. The new fireboat is equipped with an electronic
automatic fire-fighting system and the range of its water jet is up to 150
meters. It is mainly deployed to fight fires on large ships such as container
vessels. ELITE is currently the most advanced world-class purpose built
fireboat.


Principal Particulars
Crew 14 (Senior/Station Officer as Officer in Charge)
Built 2001 by Wang Tak Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Hong Kong
Dimensions Length : 42.5 m
Breadth : 9.6 m
Draft : 3.5 m
Displacement 620 tonnes
Engines Main Engine - 2 x 1,772 kw Caterpillar diesel engines
Bow Thrusters - 1 x 518 kw diesel engine
Auxiliary Engine - 2 x 245 kw diesel generators
Fire Pump One independent fire pump & two fire pumps PTO main engines.
Pumping capacity 3 x 40,000 = 120,000 litres per minute.
Speed 15 knots.
Passenger capacity 101 persons
Storage Fuel : 80,000 litres
Fresh water : 21 tonnes
Foam compound : 30,000 litres
Navigation Equipment 2 marine radars, global positioning system (GPS) and echo
sounder.

Fire Fighting & Rescue Equipment :-

Fire System Controlled by touch screen computer system
Deck Monitor 2 remote controlled main water monitors
2 remote controlled water/foam monitors
4 manual controlled water-foam monitors
Delivery outlets 6 x 100 mm diameter and 2 x 70 mm diameter outlets
Daughter boat One 6.7m speedboat with 2 x 75 HP outboard engines, the boat is
equipped with 1 fire pump and 1 monitor
Diving cage A diving cage for the conveyance of 3 divers to a depth of 60m.
(Diving cage photo)


Sources: Various internet sites including
http://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/home/eng/fireboat/no1.html

Peter Crichton

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

Hong Kong 2015, $3,10