Around eight and a half metres long, a draught of 60 centimetres and a speed of 33 knots (approx. 61 km/h) - these are some of the striking technical specifications of the new vessel. The new 8.4 metre class of the DGzRS was designed by Arctic Airboats in Finland, in close development cooperation with the sea rescuers. The prototype was built by a specialised Finnish boatbuilding company.
The new, extremely seaworthy rescue boat has a high-strength aluminium hull - typical of DGzRS rescue units. The superstructure is made of very robust glass fibre reinforced plastic. A 425 hp jet drive accelerates the boat to a speed of 33 knots (approx. 61 km/h).
Like its predecessor, this rescue boat will be stationed ashore on a special trailer - also newly constructed - in the DGzRS rescue shed built in 1905 in the centre of Wustrow.
A powerful John Deere 6R 230 tractor, specially converted for maritime use, takes the boat either to the open Baltic Sea or to the wide-ranging backwaters of the Bodden.
Brigitte Rockahr, a good friend of the namesake, christened the new rescue boat with the words "I christen you 'Knut Olaf Kolbe' and wish you and your crew a safe journey and a safe return home at all times".
