Port accessThe Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service of the Bizkaia Provincial Council has become the first in Spain to be equipped with a remote-controlled multi-purpose land robot.
The provision of this new state-of-the-art equipment has been made possible thanks to the collaboration agreement, signed between the Bizkaia Provincial Council and the Port Authority, for prevention, guidance and intervention in the event of fire and other incidents which may occur in the Port of Bilbao.
Under this agreement, a new container truck-crane has also been acquired to further improve the service. The total investment made for the two pieces of equipment amounts to more than 607,000 euros.
The Head of the Bizkaia Provincial Council, Elixabete Etxanobe, has been presented with a battery-powered, state-of-the-art multi-purpose robot by the President of the Port Authority of Bilbao, Ricardo Barkala. This innovative device is to be used by the members of the Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service of the Bizkaia Provincial Council, under the collaboration agreement signed between the two organisations.
The robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is the first of its kind to be put into operation in Spain for a Fire Service. It is an unmanned, remote-controlled, ground-based device designed to be used in dangerous, high-risk and highly complex situations. Its modular design and multi-mission capabilities make it a key asset in high-risk situations, such as fires, in highly contaminated environments and/or landslides, minimising risk for firefighters. A device of identical characteristics was used in the highly complex operation to extinguish the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Elixabete Etxanobe, Head of the Bizkaia Provincial Council, explained that, with this new device, “our firefighters will be able to do their work more safely and more efficiently, minimising risk and optimising results. Technology is no substitute for experience and professional know-how, but it can be a very valuable ally. The more technology we can call on, the safer the work of our firefighters becomes, and the better their response in emergency situations, thereby improving the quality of life for the people of Bizkaia. This robot, the first of its kind to come into operation in an emergency service in Spain, is an important step in this direction”.
Like Etxanobe, the President of the Port Authority of Bilbao, Ricardo Barkala, also highlighted the value of the agreement that the two institutions have had in place for 28 years, and which has enabled the technical resources used by the Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service to deal with emergencies to be continuously updated and upgraded. “We always consult beforehand with the professionals who provide this service on any new acquisition of equipment. On this occasion, moreover, we have combined usability and practicality with innovation, high technology and, most importantly, safety. As on all previous occasions, this new equipment can be used both inside and outside the port, in any incident that may occur in Bizkaia”, he added.
Technical features and characteristics of the multi-purpose robot.
The robot to be used by the Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service of the Bizkaia Provincial Council weighs 500 kilos and is mounted on tracks, which enables it to successfully negotiate obstacles of up to 30 centimetres in height, climb up and down stairs, ascend slopes of more than 40º, push and move loads of up to one tonne and operate autonomously for 16 hours without changing the batteries, which can be replaced when hot, thereby ensuring the device can operate continuously without interruption. In addition, its water self-protection system can withstand extreme peaks of temperature of up to 800ºC, making it ideal for operations in hostile environments.
In addition to firefighting, the robot is designed for other tasks such as the rescue, evacuation and transfer of victims, transporting heavy equipment and tools in harsh environments, carrying out reconnaissance work and taking measurements of various variables (temperature, toxicity, available oxygen, explosive atmospheres, etc.), amongst others. Its modular design means it can be assembled and dismantled by a single person, with no other tools required and in less than 30 seconds. Furthermore, various types of equipment can be mounted on it, such as a water cannon, video turret and thermal camera, a tray for transporting materials and a stretcher holder.
Equipped with an interchangeable battery system that provides autonomy of up to 16 hours, the Colossus robot, manufactured in France by Shark Robotics, has a 3,000 l/min water and foam cannon, 360º vision optical and thermal cameras, and a carrying capacity of more than 500 kg. These technical features add to its versatility in critical and complex situations, ensuring fast and efficient deployment with minimal maintenance.
The robot will be housed at the Artaza Fire Station, where the personnel and fire chiefs have been specifically trained to use it, thus consolidating the commitment of both organisations to the safety and protection of the public.
Multi-purpose truck-crane to further strengthen the Bizkaia Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service.
Together with the multi-purpose robot, a state-of-the-art truck-crane has also been unveiled at the Port of Bilbao to further improve the operational capabilities of the Bizkaia Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service. This versatile vehicle is designed to transport any of the containers used by the service with a variety of equipment, and is equipped with a crane for handling loads both in emergency situations and for any other logistical activity.
The three-axle truck has a maximum authorised mass of 26 tonnes and can load containers of up to 6.6 metres in length. It is equipped with a HIAB X-HIDUO 228 crane, with a lifting capacity of 1,060 kg. at 15 metres, and a Multilift Optima 20 S 59 hook. The system is remotely controlled, enabling automatic loading and unloading, which improves efficiency and safety in all operations.
Strategic collaboration between the Port Authority and the Bizkaia Provincial Council.
The acquisition of the multi-purpose robot and the truck-crane, involving a total investment of 607,773 euros (337,568 euros for the robot and 270,000 euros for the truck) has been made possible thanks to the collaboration agreement that the Port Authority of Bilbao and the Bizkaia Provincial Council have had in place since 1996. Under this agreement, the firefighters of the Provincial Council act as the intervention group in the Port of Bilbao, as set out in the Port Self-Protection Plan. The Port Authority, for its part, provides certain advanced equipment and specialised training to deal with emergencies in this environment.
In short, these new acquisitions improve the responsiveness of the Bizkaia Fire Fighting, Prevention and Rescue Service, and increase the operational efficiency and safety of its firefighters in high-risk situations, which, in turn, has a direct impact on the protection and safety of all the citizens of Bizkaia.
