Transfer of Klaipėda port rescue ship VIESULAS

 

 

By the Decree of the Government of Lithuania No 1188 of 19 November 2008 Klaipėda State Seaport Authority transfers the long-term asset – rescue ship VIESULAS – to State Border guard service coast guard district under the Ministry of Finance to manage, use and dispose it since the 5th of December 2008.

Since 1991 the function of search and rescue in port waters, the sea and in the Curonian Lagoon was executed by Klaipėda State Seaport Authority. In order to suitable and efficiently do it, the enterprise acquired special ships for this purpose.

When the law was amended and the amendments will come into power since the 1st of January 2009, it is foreseen that the functions of search and rescue will be fulfilled by

Port Authority – in port waters. For this purpose the enterprise has got a rescue  ŽAIBAS.

Presently the port fleet of the Port Authority consists of 9 ships: rescue ships ŠAKIAI and VIESULAS, divers` boats RIFAS and GELMĖ, pilot cutters SMILTĖ and DANGĖ, rescue cutter  ŽAIBAS, hudrographic ship RUSNĖ and tug-boat STUMBRAS. Besides, Klaipėda State Seaport Authority plans to purchase a dredger for maintenance dredging works.

Ship VIESULAS is a rescue ship for 9 years. Having purchased this ship the captain of it was appointed Rimantas Zakas, and presently acting captain is Edgar Kiričenka.

Rescue ship VIESULAS, able to sail with the speed of 40 knots (18 km/h) and „sail“ on land, is equipped with special rescue equipments for rescue of people at night, special nets and lifebuoys and life crane. The ship participated in a number of rescue operations and helped the ships and their crews. During this period 11 people were saved.

 

 

Klaipėda State Seaport Authority 

Marketing– Public Relations

tel. +370 46 499 708, mob. +370 615 30536