On 14 August, in a ceremony held in the Port of Constanța, Romania's principal port on the Black Sea, the Naval Detachment of the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (Inspectoratul General pentru Situaţii de Urgenţă – IGSU) formally welcomed the multi-role response vessel MAI 0101 into service. IGSU operates under the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministerul Afacerilor Interne), reflected in the vessel's "MAI" designation.

Multi-role capabilities

The vessel is based on a standard Damen Stan Patrol (SPa) 5009, an approximately 50-metre design from the standardised patrol range of Dutch shipbuilding group Damen, tailored to the client's multi-role requirements, and was completed, commissioned and delivered by Damen Shipyards Galati, one of Romania's largest yards, located on the Danube. It is equipped to perform firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency medical assistance duties in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. MAI 0101 is able to handle fires both on board vessels and on offshore energy infrastructure, a capability relevant to the offshore gas installations operating in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea, as well as to support firefighting and decontamination in operations in the water.

Rapid response

The vessel has been outfitted with self-protection installations, radar, and day and night surveillance cameras. It has also been equipped with rapid response boats and a rescue system and crane. During rescue operations, it has the capacity to evacuate up to 50 persons to safety. It is further equipped to provide emergency medical support, including Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (Serviciul Mobil de Urgență, Reanimare și Descarcerare – SMURD) capabilities, extending the reach of Romania's national mobile emergency service, which provides pre-hospital care through ground and air intervention units, to the maritime domain.

Demonstration of Romanian skills

Speaking during the event, Alexander Shamray, Damen Sales Manager East and South East Europe, said: "Today, we celebrate more than a vessel. We celebrate a capability that will help protect lives. For Damen, it is a source of great pride to contribute to this important mission.

"We are especially proud that this vessel was built here in Romania. It showcases the exceptional skill, dedication, and craftsmanship of Romanian shipbuilders and demonstrates that Romania continues to play an important role in the European maritime industry. The story of the MAI 0101 firefighting vessel is a story of partnership. It reflects the strong cooperation between Romania and the Netherlands, and all those who work together toward a common goal: enhancing safety and serving society."

Source: Damen Shipyards Group