Croatia’s Iskra Shipyard has completed construction of SAR 1, the first of six new ‘unsinkable’, high-speed search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation boats ordered for Croatia’s Emergency Maritime Medical Service (EMMS). The order stems back to Q4 2021, when the country’s Ministry of Health signed a HKR76.4 million (US$11.3 million) contract for the six newbuilds with Iskra Shipyard and Tehnomont Shipyard, both boatbuilders originally working in partnership – though Tehnomont would subsequently withdraw from the deal.
The remaining five SAR boats are expected to be completed between now and the end of 2023. SAR 1 will be stationed in Dubrovnik, with the other boats to be sited at Sibenik, Zadar, Rab, Mali Losini and the island of Brac.
Croatia’s coastline, boasting more than 1,000 islands, attracts a steady stream of tourists. However, the country’s geography presents a challenge in providing emergency medical services to people living on these islands, which is why the SAR boats are so important. The six newcomers are expected to provide a much-needed upgrade to Croatia’s current fleet of rescue boats, some of which were built more than two decades ago.
SAR 1 has received design input from Metal Shark Croatia, which was established in the country by US naval architect (and patrol/rescue boat specialist) Metal Shark Boats four years ago (see Ship & Boat International May/June 2019, page 10). Like its forthcoming sisters, the boat has a length of 15.25m, a 4.7m beam and a draught of 1.4m, and has been developed for operations in harsh weather and sea state 6 conditions. Fully self-righting by design, sea trials earlier this year saw the aluminium-hulled craft survive a free fall into the water from a 2m height, as well as bow-shore impacts at a speed of 4knots.
A pair of 662kW Volvo Penta engines grants SAR 1 a top speed in excess of 35knots. Volvo Penta also supplied the boat’s dynamic positioning system, while JRC provided its radar. SAR 1 can accommodate up to three crew members and 12 passengers, and the boat features a dedicated treatment room for survivors and patients. A dive/swim platform has been incorporated into the vessel’s aft to facilitate casualty recovery, and the deck is fitted with a crane and two electric capstans.
For unimpeded access to the deck, the boat’s handrails have been positioned along the exterior of the wheelhouse, rather than around the deck itself: in this way, crew can safely move around on deck while overseeing timely transfers on and off the vessel.
