When it comes to fighting fires, quick response is vital – especially when lives and livelihoods are at stake rapid firefighting and rescue vessel, is designed for this task. As fast and furious as its namesake, it protects a 16 kilometer (10-mile)stretch of the-Demerara River, the gateway to the country’s economically vital North Coast
and capital Georgetown.
Barracuda protectsa 16-kilometer (I0-mile) stretch of Demerara River, the gateway to Guyana's NorthCoast and capital, Georgetown.
Firefighter and Rescue Vessel in One Barracuda was purchased by the Guyana Fire and Rescue Department to safeguard an area bustling with industrial and food import and export activities and petroleum product storage.
Designed and built by Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) in the U.K. the high-performance 14-meter (46-foot), aluminum alloy Borrocuda is prepared to meet all the risks and hazards of modern-day marine firefighting and emergency duties. The vessel, which delivers speeds of up to 32 knots, is equipped with three fire monitors. Each is capable of delivering approximately 4,500 liters (1,188 U.S. gallons) of water per minute at a range of up to 120 meters (394 feet). Barracuda is also fitted with two stretchers for medical evacuations.
The twin John Deere 9.01- engines run at full throttle 24 hours a day.
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle of the Guyana Fire and Rescue Department values the vessel highly. “Barracuda has definitely improved our country's general and marine firefighting and response capability, It fills a real need for port protection for wharves, warehouses, and more on the waterfront, as well as land-based firefighting operations,” he comments.
Making a Splash With John Deere Engines
Twin John Deere PowerTech™ 6090SFM85 engines, with a power rating of 242 kW (325 hp) at 2100 rpm, supply ample power for the three fire monitors. The engines are MI duty rated, the heaviest duty available and can be used at full, wide-open throttle 24 hours a day.
“These heavy-duty engines are essential to deliver the power needed to shoot the water from the three monitors up to a distance of 120 meters (394 feet),” explains Sam Pearson, Sales Engineer for John Deere marine engine distributor E.P. Barrus Ltd. “In addition, Barracuda carries a full set of firefighting equipment to tackle marine based emergencies.”
Barrus supplied the complete power packs and carried out successful sea trials with the AMC team, “Barracuda has been an interesting and exciting vessel to work with,” Pearson continues. “Although we have supplied engines for fire pumps before, this was the first U.K. built vessel we worked on, It was brilliant to be part of the project.”
FiFi Flexibility
Barracuda is the first in a new range of high-performance “FiFi” (an abbreviation of “firefighting”) vessels suitable for any marine-based emergencies. The state-of-the-art range offers a diverse array of configurationswith both mono hull and catamaran. For firefighting, customers can choose options for waterjets, conventional propellers, Voith Linear Jets, and hybrid propulsion.
According to spokespersons at Angloco Limited, which organized the delivery of the vessel to the Guyana Fire and Rescue Department, Barracuda has exceeded expectations and offers amazing performance and design.
And for AMC, headquartered alongside the River Medina in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the sale of Barracuda is a great boost for the U.K. marine industry, economy, and emerging export market for firefighting and multipurpose vessels.
Distributor: E.P. Barrus Ltd. in Bicester, Oxfordshire, U.K.; www.barrus.co.uk
