Our Services
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Marine AmbulanceFlying Christine III is a 45-foot marine ambulance, launched in 1994, one of the few vessels in the world built to a unique design specifically for the high speed provision of medical aid at sea. Operated bythe Ambulance & Rescue Service, the vessel on call 24 hours a day, from a mooring in St. Peter Port harbour, Guernsey general descriptionFlying Christine III is the marine equivalent of an accident and emergency ambulance. The vessel carries additional rescue equipment which enables the crew to deal with accidents at sea or on ships, as well as responding to incidents on neighbouring islands. Crewed by Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians, together with qualified local mariners, this enables life-saving and stabilising treatment to commence immediately a patient is on board and to be continued as the launch speeds towards land. Operated by the Ambulance & Rescue Service, which relies totally on public contributions and support to continue its services. The vessel was launched at the end of 1994. Although her role is primarily answering medical emergencies or accidents on board ships or neighbouring islands, Flying Christine III is also available to assist the local lifeboat or other authorities in rescues or searches at sea. crewThe crew of Flying Christine III are Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians whose normal role is full-time professional emergency ambulance work. This means that casualties are treated on board by crew members who have the training and experience to diagnose and treat injuries or accidents to professional ambulance service standards. Volunteers from the local boating fraternity make up a panel of honorary coxswains and engineers to assist the service whenever necessary, and can be called from their homes or their jobs at any time to respond to emergency calls. fundingThe marine ambulance is funded from public donations. The Ambulance & Rescue Service receives an annual grant from the States of Guernsey to assist with the professional road ambulance service but the marine ambulance, like the inshore rescue boats and other rescue activities of the service, is funded by public generosity. Flying Christine III was built entirely from funds donated or bequeathed to the Service. A charge is sometimes made where insurance companies are covering patient's medical costs, or where set donations have been agreed from neighbouring islands, but these do not pay the costs of maintaining or running the vessel, and the service depends on donations and public generosity to continue its work. detailed descriptionFlying Christine III is powered by twin Volvo D9 engines, with twin disc MGX 5075 quick shift gearboxes. Each engine develops 575 horsepower, resulting in a maximum speed of approximately 25 knots, by way of two five bladed propellers. The vessel has a 16 foot fibreglass tender moored permanently in St Peter Port harbour.. The fibreglass hull is the well-proven Nelson 45 hull, designed to cut through the waves rather than ride on the surface of the sea, and with the wheelhouse positioned well forward, and the engine room to the stern, the stretcher cabin is situated amidships where patients have a smooth ride in the area least affected by the motion of the sea. The vessel has a stretcher cabin larger than those found in road ambulances, giving Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics plenty of room to examine and treat patients with the comprehensive array of medical equipment carried. The stern deck has steps to water level to enable patients to be recovered from the water in a stretcher, and can be used for transfer to helicopter if necessary. A full complement of marine equipment, together with charts is carried. Lifejackets and a self-inflating life raft is included in addition to a 9-foot inflatable dinghy which can be used for close inshore work from the marine ambulance. technical detailsFlying Christine III was built in Guernsey to Lloyds Register of Shipping rules for full LRBC by Seaward Marine. Designed by Mr. A. Mursell, T.T. Boat Designs Length: 45 feet Engines: 2 x Volvo D9 engines, each developing 575 horsepower driving through twin disc MGX 5075 quick shift gearboxes. |
