GOTEBORG, Sweden, Aug. 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Semcon AB, in cooperation with the Swedish Society for the Saving of Shipwrecked Persons and the Swedish Armed Forces' helicopter wing, has developed a rescue boat based on a totally new and unique concept in air- sea rescue. With the help of Semcon's expertise, a rescue boat of the Rescue Runner type has been further developed to enable it to be launched from the air. On Friday 13 August an air-sea rescue will be staged outside the Semcon Tech Center on Lindholmen in Goteborg, and for the first time the public will have the opportunity to see how a Rescue Runner is flown in by helicopter and carries out a rescue mission.
"Semcon was quick to take the chance to participate in this development project. It is not only a technical challenge totally in line with Semcon's design and development operations, it is also a project that gave us an opportunity to use Semcon's complete expertise. Another significant factor was the project's major humanitarian value," says Hans Johansson, CEO of Semcon AB.
A Rescue Runner is an effective means to rescue people in sea emergencies who are in difficult-to-reach areas such as reefs, cliffs and shallow-water coastlines. As the rescue boat can now be launched from a helicopter, rescue work will become more efficient.
In addition to a financial contribution of SEK 300,000, Semcon's main involvement has been to get the rescue boat flight-ready. Semcon has been responsible for project management, development and design of the lifting lines, and dimensioning and testing of attachment points. In addition, the company has optimised and developed the electrical system.
The project has also gained international attention in countries such as the UK, Germany and Holland. The Royal National Lifeboat Association in the UK has already ordered two Rescue Runners.
For more information, contact: Hans Johansson, CEO, tel: 0705-91 43 34, e-mail: hans.johansson@semcon.se
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