Hong Kong’s New Self-Balancing Firefighting Boat: A Game-Changer in Maritime Rescue Operations

The Hong Kong Fire Department has recently acquired a unique self-balancing firefighting boat that can recover after capsizing within seconds. This vessel, built by Lungteh shipyard in Taiwan, is the world’s largest self-righting firefighting boat and will be used for maritime research and rescue operations in Hong Kong waters.

The boat, named “Fire Fighting Boat 12,” was commissioned by the Hong Kong Logistics Department from Lungteh in June 2020. It is expected to arrive in Hong Kong by June 2024 after completing trials at the factory. The self-righting function of the ship allows for continued rescue and firefighting operations even in challenging conditions, improving the protection of firefighters on board and enhancing mobility in adverse weather.

Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction and handover process of the firefighting ship has been ongoing. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in emergency accidents on Hong Kong’s eastern seaboard, prompting authorities to invest in a new ship model to strengthen maritime search and rescue activities in rough sea conditions. In addition to this new firefighting ship, authorities plan to add two command ships over the next few years to replace existing ones.

Lungteh Shipyard has a history dating back to 1979 and specializes in producing medium-speed vessels. They have built many ships for various government agencies in Hong Kong, including this new addition to the fleet of the Hong Kong Fire Department. With its ability to right itself when rolling and undergo months of testing at To Ao port before being officially put into use, Fire Fighting Boat 12 is poised to enhance the capabilities of Hong Kong’s emergency responders at sea.