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SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1981
PRAYERS OFFERED TO TIN HAU
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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S NEWEST FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE VESSEL CRUISED TO THE SHORES OF JOSS HOUSE BAY THIS MORNING FOR THE CREW TO OFFER PRAYERS AND RESPECT TO TIN HAU, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND PROTECTOR OF SEAFARERS.
THE TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS SERVICE WAS CARRIED OUT NEAR THE TIN HAU TEMPLE ON THE HK$10-MILLION +FIREBOAT SIX+ LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR FREDERICK WATSON.
MR WATSON TOGETHER WITH THE HONG KONG COMMAND'S CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, STEPHEN CHEUNG AND THE CREW OF FIREBOAT SIX' BURNED JOSS STICKS AND CANDLES IN THEIR OFFERINGS TO TIN HAU,
THE 350-TON 'FIREBOAT SIX', DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED IN HONG KONG WAS RECENTLY HANDED OVER TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. IT IS THE FASTEST OF THE SIX FIREBOATS IN SERVICE, AND HAS A TOP SPEED OF 13 KNOTS.
A SPOKESMAN OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THIS NEW ADDITION TO THE FIREBOAT FLEET CONSIDERABLY BOOSTS THE RESPONSE TO MARINE AND COASTAL INCIDENTS.
THE NEW FIREBOAT IS EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH FIRES AT SEA OR ON SHIPS ALONGSIDE, INCLUDING CONTAINER VESSELS.
A PROMINENT FEATURE ON THE 34-METRE LONG VESSEL IS THE HYDRAULIC PLATFORM WHICH IS CAPABLE OF TURNING A FULL CIRCLE AND BEING RAISED 24 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
IT IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A DRY CHEMICAL UNIT WITH A CAPACITY TO STORE 1 030 KILOGRAMS OF DRY CHEMICAL POWDER AND COMPLEMENTING THIS EQUIPMENT ARE THREE FOAM/WATER MONITORS AT BOW AND THREE WATER MONITORS AT STERN TOGETHER WITH FACILITIES FOR EXTRA HOSE LINES.
THE HYDRAULIC PLATFORM AND MONITORS CAN BE SUPPLIED WITH FOAM COMPOUND FROM VARIABLE INDUCTORS ON BOARD FROM A LIQUID FOAM STORAGE CAPACITY OF SOME 8 600 LITRES.
IT IS POWERED BY TWIN DIESEL ENGINES OF 950 HORSE POWER WHICH ALSO SUPPLY POWER TO TWO OF THE THREE SETS OF DUAL-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS. A THIRD PUMP IS DRIVEN BY AN INDEPENDENT ENGINE WHICH PERMITS PUMPING AND BOAT MANOEUVRING TO BE CARRIED OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLERS ENABLE THE COXSWAIN TO MANOEUVRE THE VESSEL COMFORTABLY AND WITH EASE. THE TOTAL PUMPING CAPACITY
IS ABOUT 27 275 LITRES PER MINUTE.
OTHER EQUIPMENT ON FIREBOAT SIX' INCLUDE MODERN NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, TELECOMMUNICATION AND INTERCOM SYSTEMS, LIFE-SAVING AND BREATHING APPARATUS EQUIPMENT.
FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED AND CARRYING A CREW OF 12, THE VESSEL WILL BE DOCKED AT THE FIRE BOAT BERTH NEAR TSING YI ISLAND.
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