On the 15th, the 540-ton state-of-the-art medium fireboat Fireboat 501, deployed at Busan New Port, demonstrates an eight-direction simultaneous water discharge, spraying up to 160,000 liters of firefighting water per minute. /Courtesy of National Fire Agency

The National Fire Agency said on the 16th that the latest mid-size fireboat, Fireboat No. 501, has been assigned to the Busan Port Fireboat Unit.

Busan Port is a key logistics hub that handled about 70% of Korea's total import and export cargo volume last year. However, there had been concerns that small fireboats alone were insufficient to respond to maritime fires, and a 540-ton (t) mid-size fireboat was built with a total budget of 31.85 billion won over about 4 years and 10 months.

The state-of-the-art medium fireboat Fireboat 501. /Courtesy of National Fire Agency

Fireboat No. 501, now in service, can discharge up to 160,000 liters (L) of firefighting water per minute. With a discharge range of more than 200 meters and a discharge height of more than 80 meters, it can safely extinguish fires from a distance even in ultra-large vessel fires, the National Fire Agency said.

Fireboat No. 501 is equipped with cutting-edge systems including an "advanced dynamic positioning system" that keeps the vessel steady in heavy seas and strong winds and a self-protection water spray system, as well as a "positive-pressure cabin system" and "CBRN response equipment" that protect crew members in the event of a hazardous chemical leak.

National Fire Agency Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong said, "With the commissioning of the latest Fireboat No. 501, we will establish a robust national firefighting response system that remains steadfast even in ultra-large port disasters."

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