Hong Kong Fire Department Adds World’s Largest Self-Righting Firefighting Boat to Fleet: A Closer Look at the ‘Fire Fighting Boat 12’

The Hong Kong Fire Department has recently purchased a cutting-edge self-balancing firefighting boat from Lungteh shipyard in Taiwan. This vessel, named “Fire Fighting Boat 12,” is the world’s largest self-righting firefighting boat and will be used for maritime research and rescue operations in Hong Kong waters.

The self-righting function of this 35-40 meter long vessel allows for continued rescue and firefighting operations even in challenging conditions, improving the safety of firefighters on board and enhancing mobility in adverse weather. After completing trials at To Ao port in Nghi Lan district, the boat will undergo several months of testing and crew training before it is officially put into use.

The need for a new ship model arises from the increasing number of emergency accidents in Hong Kong’s eastern seaboard over the past few years, prompting authorities to strengthen maritime search and rescue activities in rough sea conditions. In addition to the new firefighting ship, authorities plan to add two command ships to replace existing ones over the next few years. Lungteh Shipyard, with a history dating back to 1979, specializes in producing medium-speed vessels and has built many ships for various government agencies in Hong Kong.

Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction and handover process of this state-of-the-art vessel have been ongoing with a balance arm that allows it to return to an upright position when rolling. This addition to the Hong Kong Fire Department’s fleet aims to enhance their capabilities in responding to emergencies and conducting rescue operations at sea.