Firefighters Receive New Rescue Boat and Mini-submarines

Bratislava, 24 July (TASR) – Firefighters were given a new rescue boat on Thursday at the hydroelectric power plant in the Bratislava borough of Cunovo, stated Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) and Fire and Rescue Corps (HaZZ) head Adrian Mifkovic at a press conference on Thursday, adding that mini-submarines are also currently being distributed to all eight HaZZ regional headquarters. Each region will have one mini-submarine. The new equipment will help firefighters not only in rescue operations on water surfaces but also during floods. According to Mifkovic, the new firefighter boat has several advantages over the older vessel. "This boat can be easily loaded on a trailer, which is supplied with this vessel, within half an hour, and it can be transported on wheels or even by air in a helicopter's undercarriage," he said. The new boat can also approach the shore more easily than the existing equipment. Its hull is aluminium, and so there is less risk of damage when it meets a floating object. The vessel plus the trailer and accessories cost €210,000, he said. Mifkovic added that the mini-submarines will help firefighters, for example, when searching for people underwater. They will minimise the risk for firefighter divers. Unlike similar submarines used by the Police Corps, they are equipped with sonar. am/df