To mark the forthcoming 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, (COP26), the IMRF would like to hear about your climate change initiatives and environmentally sustainable innovations. Please send us your stories and let’s share them with other IMRF members to inspire more great ideas and make protecting the environment a priority in everything we do. 

Here, IMRF Member, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society tells us about a newly commissioned vessel that will be completely emission-free…

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society is building the very first emission-free lifeboat, with a donation of SEK 15 million from the Swedish Postcode Lottery. 

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society is working with industry partners to develop a rough draft for an electric boat, lifted out of the water on foils. The final design will be presented around the end of this year, and the prototype will be finished in 2023.  

This will be tested and evaluated at several sea rescue stations. 

“We will build a smaller lifeboat with electric propulsion and retractable foils. We aim for it to be a smooth, easy-to-manoeuvre boat that we hope will be the preferred choice when the sea rescuers go on missions,” says Fredrik Falkman, who works with maritime safety innovation at the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, adding: “As far as we know, it will be the first lifeboat in the world to be emission-free since the rowing and sailing era.”

 

“With the project ‘Sea rescue fuelled by the sun’, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society will be among the first on the journey to zero-emissions at sea. Thanks to everyone involved in the Swedish Postcode Lottery, this project can support a larger engagement in environmental issues and at the same time create more effective sea rescue, with more lives saved. We believe that a strong civil society contributes to a better world for people and planet and are therefore very proud to be a part of this journey,” says Eva Struving, Managing Director, the Swedish Postcode Lottery.

 

Over the last year, the project group has studied the requirements for the new emission free boat.

Among other things, the possible range has been investigated, and various alternatives for the hull and propulsion have been sketched.

The choice has fallen on an electric drive with batteries and a hull that is lifted above the water on hydrofoils.

The construction means that the friction from the water is reduced and the boat will become more energy efficient. 

The next step is to continue developing the drawings and towards the end of 2021 to begin the task of building the prototype.

One thing the Swedish Sea Rescue Society wants to ensure, is that the new lifeboat is preferable to its fossil-fueled siblings. 

"We want our volunteers to choose this lifeboat over a diesel-powered one. As a result, it must offer enough advantages, such as having exceptional manoeuvrability at low speeds, reduced maintenance and offering a smoother ride at speed," says Fredrik Falkman. 

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We want to hear how IMRF SAR volunteers and professionals are responding to the climate change crisis that threatens us all no matter where we are, just send details of an initiative, project or any actions your organisation has taken to protect the environment to Caroline Jupe at [email protected] and we’ll write about it for the website and the SAR HUB. Thank you.

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