RS 175 WILHELM WILHELMSEN

The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society christens RS 175 manufactured by Hydrolift.

On January 9th, the rescue boat RS 175 Wilhelm Wilhelmsen was solemnly christened at the premises of the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society (Redningsselskapet) in Lysaker, just outside Oslo. This marks the seventh rescue boat delivered by Hydrolift to the company, but the first from the new Hydrolift P45 platform.

Hydrolift P45 SAR has been developed in close collaboration with the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society and Eker Design, and it has been manufactured at Hydrolift’s facilities in Fredrikstad.

A rescue vessel for the future

During the development period, RS 175 had the project name Smart Saver, and the goal of the project was to initiate the process for a greener rescue fleet and maritime industry. A 100% emissions-free rescue vessel is not currently possible with today’s technology considering the need for speed, range, and heavy rescue operations.

In anticipation of this, Hydrolift, in collaboration with the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society and the donor Tom Wilhelmsen Foundation, has developed the most sustainable rescue boat possible with the solutions currently available. The RS 175 rescue boat will serve as a testing ground for new technologies, a platform to challenge suppliers, and a catalyst for discovering innovative solutions that align with future goals.

Dåp_Hydrolift_P45_RS175_5 — A proud team from Eker Group

Smart and sustainable

RS 175 will utilize the latest technology in future autonomy developed by Eker Group company Hyke. Hyke Sense PRO provides continuous 360-degree awareness of the vessel’s surroundings at sea. By leveraging multiple sensors, objects of all shapes and sizes around the vessel are detected, tracked, and classified, providing a prioritized overview of potential risks and interesting objects.

To meet the unique needs of certain sectors, custom applications can be built on the Hyke Sense PRO system. The first application, SMART SEARCH, has been developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society and optimized for search and rescue operations.

New apperance and innovative solutions

Aesthetically, the new RS 175 stands out from the previous P42 model delivered with a longer hull, redesigned air intakes on the aft deck, and a range of product optimizations – in addition to a changed color palette on the boat.

“Hydrolift is thrilled to once again deliver a rescue boat from our PRO department. The close collaboration with the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society over the past decade has been an exciting and highly educational journey. Working closely with such a professional organization, which continuously strives to enhance safety for everyone navigating the waters along the Norwegian coast, fills us with pride and enthusiasm to contribute to this,” states Bård Eker, CEO of Hydrolift and Eker Group. “

At the same time, it excites us to develop new solutions on board through next-generation technology to meet sustainable goals and create a greener and smarter future.”