New rescue vessel Björg arrives in Iceland to replace older ship in Rif

The latest rescue vessel from the Icelandic Search and Rescue Association, Landsbjörg, named Björg, arrived in Iceland yesterday. This new ship will replace an older vessel of the same name located in Rif, Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The retiring ship was built in 1988 and is now 36 years old, according to an announcement from Landsbjörg.

The average age of the rescue vessels that Landsbjörg plans to renew is 38 years. The oldest vessel in their fleet, the Hannes Þ. Hafstein, built in 1978, has reached 46 years of service. The newest ship scheduled for replacement is the Gísli Jóns, which was constructed in 1995 and is currently 29 years old.

In the coming days, inspections of the Björg will take place in preparation for the issuance of its sea-worthy certificate. Additionally, various equipment, including Tetra communication systems, will be installed on the vessel.