XN000022-1977-11-11 — Page 13

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1977

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GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR AUGUST

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GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1977, SHOW A DEFICIT OF $168.7 MILLION, COMPARED WITH A DEFICIT OF

$134.0 MILLION IN AUGUST LAST YEAR.

THIS HAS RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATED DEFICIT OF $222.5 MILLION FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, COMPARED WITH A DEFICIT OF $299.9 MILLION FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

TOTAL EXPENDITURE, AT $670.8 MILLION, WAS $194.5 MILLION MORE THAN IN AUGUST, 1976.

TOTAL REVENUE AND RECEIPTS, AT $502.1 MILLION, WERE $159.8 MILLION MORE THAN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

MODERN FIRE FIGHTING BOAT FOR ABERDEEN

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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS PUT IN OPERATION A NEW $1.5 MILLION FIREBOAT TODAY (FRIDAY) TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION TO THE FISHING FLEET AND FLOATING RESTAURANTS IN ABERDEEN.

THE NEW FIREBOAT IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO SUIT THE NARROW AND SHALLOW WATERWAYS IN THE HARBOUR AND TO MANOEUVRE CLOSE IN SHORE TO FIGHT SHORE-BASED FIRES IF NECESSARY.

IT HAS AN OPERATING SPEED OF ABOUT 12 KNOTS AND CAN CARRY A CREW OF EIGHT.

THE VESSEL HAS A NUMBER OF MODERN FEATURES - AN AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM, AN ELECTRIC ECHO SOUNDER, A RUDDER INDICATOR, WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED INDICATORS AND A PUBLIC ADDRESS AND INTER-COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

THE FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT INCLUDES THREE DECK MONITORS AND TWO MAJOR PUMPS CAPABLE OF DRAWING 4,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE.

IT IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A FOAM COMPOUND STORAGE TANK OF 350 GALLONS CAPACITY AND A PORTABLE FOAM CANNON, CONNECTABLE TO ANY DECK MONITORS, WITH AN OUTPUT OF 2,500 GALLONS OF FOAM PER MINUTE.

THE NEW FIREBOAT IS DESIGNED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S SPECIFICATIONS AND IS BUILT BY A LOCAL SHIPYARD.

IT REPLACES THE PRESENT NO. 3 FIREBOAT WHICH HAS BEEN BASED AT ABERDEEN SINCE 1950.

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