Ö-varvet AB – for the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS)

Integrated hydraulics for next-generation rescue boats

For Ö-varvet’s series of 12-metre Emblad-class rescue boats, HydTec has developed an integrated hydraulic solution for waterjet steering and reversing functions and a hydraulically driven firefighting pump.

HydTec’s scope covers system and detailed engineering, component and material supply, custom manufacturing, preassembly and testing, as well as onboard installation and commissioning. For each vessel, the completed installation is verified together with the shipyard, and the documentation is updated to reflect the final configuration. Experience from each delivery is carried forward to improve the design, manufacturing and installation of subsequent vessels.

Challenge:

The vessel required three safety-critical hydraulic functions within strict weight and space limitations. The architecture also had to accommodate high drive speeds, demanding marine conditions, service access and reliable operation while remaining practical to reproduce across a growing vessel series.

Delivery

HydTec engineered and delivered the hydraulic package within its scope, including the reservoir, manifolds, pump assemblies, filtration, cooling, monitoring, pipework, hoses and brackets. Assemblies were manufactured, preassembled, tested and adjusted before onboard installation, commissioning and final documentation.

Results

The project established a compact and repeatable hydraulic platform for the Emblad-class vessel series. With each delivery, HydTec has refined the engineering, accelerated manufacturing and improved installation efficiency. The hydraulic system on each vessel is individually installed, commissioned and tested, with documentation reflecting its final onboard configuration.

GO TO RESULTS

A red, yellow, and blue speedboat with the Swedish word 'Sjöräddning' on the side, captured from an aerial perspective as it cuts through dark blue water and creates a white wake.

Initiation

Two bronze hydraulic pump units for waterjet steering and firefighting functions used in HydTec's rescue boat hydraulic package.

Initial assessment

The assignment began in late 2021 during the review of the vessel’s main technical systems. HydTec was asked to incorporate the hydraulics into the overall vessel design and investigate how the waterjet and firefighting functions could be delivered with less weight and fewer separate components.

Early concepts used three separate hydraulic systems. Through technical dialogue with Ö-varvet, system partners and component manufacturers, HydTec developed a more integrated architecture suited to the vessel’s high engine speed, limited installation space and demanding marine operating environment.

Communication

Development was coordinated through design reviews, technical meetings, supplier dialogue and continuous communication with Ö-varvet.

HydTec produced hydraulic schematics, 3D models, bills of materials, assembly drawings, I/O information, test data and supporting product documentation. Following the installation and commissioning of the hydraulic system on each vessel, the final configuration is incorporated into vessel-specific as-built schematics and bills of materials.

Process

Technical line drawing of a mechanical hydraulic or transmission system with hoses, pipes, and a control box, shown on a white background.

Design & Engineering

HydTec began by mapping the hydraulic consumers, operating conditions and available installation space. The main engineering challenge was to combine two independent waterjet steering and reversing circuits with a hydraulically driven firefighting pump within a compact installation.

Pump selection was constrained by high rotational speed and suction conditions, while the customer was actively pursuing lower weight and fewer separate components. HydTec evaluated alternative pump arrangements, oil compatibility, cooling demand, filtration, monitoring and safe operating limits in dialogue with Ö-varvet and the relevant equipment manufacturers.

The resulting architecture uses a compact common reservoir arrangement with dedicated pump circuits, custom manifolds and integrated cooling and condition monitoring. Pipe routing, hose geometry, brackets and service access were developed in 3D and refined against the actual vessel installation.

The design was converted into vessel-specific schematics, bills of materials and assembly data. This allows experience from manufacturing, installation and commissioning to be controlled and transferred to subsequent vessels.

Manufacturing

HydTec manufactures the custom reservoir, manifolds, adapters, brackets, pipe assemblies and hose sets, and builds the waterjet and firefighting-pump modules as complete units. Wherever possible, the hydraulic package is preassembled at HydTec to minimise onboard work and ensure consistent quality.

Manufacturing has been progressively streamlined throughout the vessel series. Experience from each completed boat is transferred into updated drawings, bills of materials, assembly instructions and production methods. Components and subassemblies can therefore be prepared earlier, interfaces verified in advance and recurring work performed more efficiently.

Pump assemblies are bench-tested and adjusted for their specified operating envelope. Hoses and pipework are identified against the drawings, and pressure testing forms part of the production method.

This structured process has improved repeatability, reduced preparation and installation time, and increased production readiness with each successive vessel.

A red, yellow, and green coast guard boat under construction inside a workshop, with a metal walkway leading alongside it.

Results

Installation & commissioning

For each vessel, the preassembled hydraulic packages are transported to Ö-varvet and installed onboard. HydTec completes the hydraulic pipework and hose connections within its scope and carries out system start-up, de-airing, adjustment, testing and commissioning.

HydTec verifies the completed installation together with the yard before system handover. Final hose routes, settings and component selections are then incorporated into the vessel-specific as-built schematics, 3D data and bills of materials.

Installation and commissioning are therefore integral parts of HydTec’s delivery for every vessel in the series, not activities limited to the first boat.

Follow up & support

Experience from the manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the hydraulic system on each vessel is systematically reviewed and transferred to the next build. HydTec continuously refines component selection, assembly methods, documentation and onboard installation procedures.

Operational observations are evaluated together with Ö-varvet, and agreed technical improvements are incorporated into subsequent vessels. HydTec remains involved throughout the series with engineering support, manufacturing, onboard installation, commissioning and vessel-specific documentation.

Integrated hydraulics for next-generation rescue boats