New Firefighting Boat for South China

Industry continues to grow in China’s Pearl River estuary and marine firefighting power has been dramatically increased with the delivery last February 28 of a powerful new firefighting boat. Built at the ship building and repair yard Wenchong Shipyard 20 kilometres south east of Guangzhou City, the "Zhuxiao 01" is 38.5-metres long with a 7.8-metre beam and a 3.4-metre molded depth. Propulsion power is provided by a pair of Cummins KTA38-M2 engines delivering 1044 KW (1400 HP) at 1950 RPM. A pair of the same Cummins KTA38-M2 engines producing 1350 HP at 1900 RPM. drive German-made Aktiangesell Schaft model D-67225 pumps. These each pump 15,000 litres per minute to give the water monitors a 120-metre range and the foam monitors a 50-metre range. A pair of Cummins 6BTA5.9 engines power 65 Kw generator sets. A 60 Kw bow thruster enhances the vessel’s twin prop manoeuverability. The boat is operated by the Zhuhai Fire-Fighting Bureau. The Bureau is responsible for fire protection in the Zhuhai area with its 650,000 permanent residents and total population of 1.3 million people. As a special free trade zone, the area contains a lot of factories visiting workers. Accommodation is provided for a boat crew of seven while the 13-member firefighting crew stays in a nearby barracks building with other firefighters.