The government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, visited today the new Maritime Rescue boat (Sasemar), the Guardamar ‘Urania’, in the port of Arrecife (Lanzarote), accompanied by the general director of the Merchant Navy and president of Sasemar, Gustavo Santana, and by the director of Sasemar, José Luis García Lena.
The government delegate and those responsible for Maritime Rescue, attached to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, have seen first-hand the impressions of the ship’s personnel after the first months of service in the Urania Guardamar, which is ready for a quick and effective intervention in the search and rescue on the high seas.
Anselmo Pestana has been very satisfied with the new addition to the Salvamento Marítimo fleet, highlighting the volume of work that Sasemar professionals have in the Canary Islands: “This is the fifth guardamar we are going to have in the Canary Islands. This strengthens our rescue capacity in the Canary Islands and is a key investment for a staff that, as you know, this year has had a very intense activity”.
“One fifth of the boats that our country has are positioned in the Canary Islands. To the Maritime Captaincy and the Maritime Rescue staff, we congratulate them on the magnificent work they have done this year”, added the government delegate.
El director general de la Marina Mercante ha destacado el esfuerzo que se está realizando en la ruta canaria: “The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is committed to positioning the boats where their use is most effective and in this case in the Canary Islands is necessary due to the upturn in migration. In addition, this vessel is easier for crews to operate with people who suffer maritime incidents.”
For his part, José Luis García Lena, director of Salvamento Marítima, has highlighted the evolution that the incorporation of the Urania Guardamar entails: “This boat has 40 meters of length, while the previous ones had only 32. In addition, it has a rescue area to a band, this allows this rescue area to have been expanded and can be done in a much safer way.”
This new addition to the Marine Rescue fleet has meant a great advance in terms of technology within the fast intervention boats. The Uranian Guardamar incorporates the most modern means, both in navigation and communications, and in search and rescue systems. With its 40 meters of length this boat can reach a speed of 30 knots and an autonomy of 1,450 nautical miles (2,330 km).
In addition, this new boat is equipped with powerful means of rescue, such as an auxiliary boat with capacity for six people, a rescue area at sea level with direct vision from the government post, an indoor room with easy access for stretchers and a nursing for the care of the wounded.