A brand-new fire and rescue vessel called the Prince Jacques has joined the Monaco Fire Brigade’s fleet, and Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene and their nine-year-old twins climbed aboard for the boat’s maiden voyage.
On Saturday 4th May, the Princely family headed down to the Port of Fontvieille to tour the new at-sea rescue vessel and witness the ceremonial blessing of the boat by the Archbishop of Monaco, Dominique-Marie David, and Father Christian Venard, the Chaplain of the Force Publique.
The vessel has been called the Prince Jacques in honour of the young son of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene. Nine-year-old Prince Jacques is the heir apparent of his father.
According to naval tradition, the vessel entered its new home port beneath two opposing streams of water, a practice called Les Grandes Eaux in French.
The Prince Jacques has been designed according to the fire brigade’s exact specifications, a process that was five years in the making and was pulled on feedback gleaned from the 15 years of service enjoyed by the Monaco Fire Brigade’s previous vessel.
This next-generation version boasts a 1,100 horsepower powertrain, a gyroscopic stabilisation system to counter heel, a hose pressure of 5,000 litres per minute, a motorised rear platform and a closed control room cabin for the safety of rescuers and those being aided by the crew.
The vessel is also equipped with a thermal vision camera with 30x zoom, an electronic anchoring and naval identification system, a radar and a navigation system equipped with the latest mapping technologies.
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department