Highfield Patrol 660 professional boat for official use

Delivered to the South Savo Rescue Department

Professional boat for rescue operations

In April 2025, we handed over the Highfield Patrol 660 professional boat to the South Savo Rescue Department for rescue and oil spill response. The project included, among other things, a demanding certification process, an inspection with Eurofins, and sea trials in Finland. Read how the professional boat was built, inspected, and equipped for rescue use.

Public procurement launched the project

At the end of 2023, the South Savo Rescue Department published a procurement notice for a B-class oil spill response and rescue boat. We participated in the tender for Highfield Patrol 660 -boat.

When the offer was accepted, preparations began for the boat's equipment and certification. We investigated what process was required to certify a boat for professional use and who could carry it out. Eurofins was chosen as the inspection partner, as they have decades of experience in inspecting professional boats, especially in the 5.5–24 meter size range. Eurofins operates in Finland as a notified inspection body approved by Traficom.

Professional boat inspection process

The inspection of a professional boat starts at the factory, where, among other things, all the welds on the hull are checked. Certification is not possible unless the boat's manufacturing process meets the required ISO standards, which applies to all boats intended for professional use.

For the Highfield Patrol 660, the welds were inspected in two stages: before and after the installation of the furling plate, so that all seams could be checked with certainty. The factory also scheduled production so that the inspection could be carried out smoothly.

Design and production already in accordance with the requirements

In the case of Highfield, the exact requirements for a professional boat were already met in terms of the standard boat design and production process and manufacturing technology. No structural changes were required to the boat, nor were changes to the electrical systems or other parts of the boat. Everything that the factory had designed and built met the required criteria.

Boat installations in Finland and handover

The actual construction of the boat was allowed to begin as soon as the boat arrived in Finland. Sea tests were carried out during the autumn of 2024, which included, among other things, tilting and stability tests. An inspection was carried out in early winter, during which a few shortcomings related to the equipment were discovered. A separate battery was required for the electrical equipment in case of a total blackout, and in addition, lifebuoys and a radar reflector were added to the boat. These were the only shortcomings. The boat itself was in good condition in every way.

The Highfield Patrol 660 professional boat was handed over to the South Savo Rescue Department in April 2025.