MADISON, Alabama — Rescue ONE, which makes specially designed police, fire and rescue boats, announced today that it has secured an order for 75 rescue boats for the government of Thailand, a country that has been plagued by deadly floods.
Madison-based Rescue ONE said the boats will be shipped in phases over the next six months with a service date expected in late 2013. The company is partnering with Bangkok-based DLM Solutions to provide government agencies with Rescue ONE Connector Boats. The boats are equipped with outboard engines, command consoles, rescue platforms and emergency light bar mounting racks.
“Rescue ONE exemplifies how Alabama’s small businesses can compete in the overseas marketplace,” said Hilda Lockhart, director of International Trade for the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Rescue ONE has established itself as a reliable supplier with a high-quality product that provides them with a solid footprint throughout the world.”
Rescue ONE was awarded the Governor’s Trade Excellence Award in 2009 for its commitment to exporting, Lockhart said.
Rescue ONE said its connector boats incorporate the functions of four separate boats: the lightness and speed of a rapid rescue response boat, the dragging operations of a recovery boat, the capabilities of a dive boat, and a removable fire pump like a fire boat.
In addition to the boats, DLM will be building Rescue ONE’s specially designed double stacked trailers to enable 38 rescue stations around the country to be equipped with two boats transported on a single trailer.
“This truly validates the connector boat as the premier solution for flood response worldwide,” said Rescue ONE President Taylor Edge. “Tremendous thanks are extended to DLM Solutions for believing in the Connector Boat system and demonstrating its value to government officials in Thailand.”
In 2011, Thailand was severely affected by flooding, which accounted for more than 800 deaths and impacted 13.6 million other residents. These floods prompted by the government to seek new solutions for dealing with flood rescue and evacuation.
“DLM believes in the unique capabilities the Connector Boat brings to flood rescue and the strong partnership it has developed with Rescue ONE,” said DLM managing director Jarin Srikaewpraphan. “We are proud to be able to provide this flood response boat system to our country’s rescue agency.”
Rescue ONE was founded in 1992 in Southside, Ala., and now has more than 600 customers. Those customers include the FBI, Columbus Fire Department in Ohio, Minneapolis Fire Department in Minnesota and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
