Project Overview

The Dutch Lifeguards (Reddingsbrigade) wanted to reduce their environmental impact from using fossil fuel-powered boats. With funding from Shell and in collaboration with our partner Enviu, we helped find sustainable solutions that could work in the difficult reality of lifeguard operations.

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Our Contribution

We interviewed lifeguards across different areas to understand their missions and needs. We divided their missions into categories and ranked them based on energy demand, speed requirements and potential for sustainability. We then proposed several technical solutions, comparing boat performance, cost, and sustainability. Working with Enviu was smooth and effective, leading to practical plans for two sustainable pilot projects.

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Key Outcomes and Innovations

The project resulted in proposals for two pilot projects, each for a different mission stage:

1. Sustainable Observation: Using remote-controlled boats and drones for observation could reduce national lifeguard emissions by up to 81%, lowering the environmental impact of routine patrols and searches. These unmanned aerial and water vehicles can oversee swimmers, watersports, and events, and provide first aid, without the need of combustion engines.

2. Sustainable Inland Water Boats: We proposed a boat for inland waters, capable of sailing 45 km/h, using plug-in hybrid or hydrogen-electric systems. This solution could cut lifeguard emissions by up to 38%. The lightweight boat uses an electric waterjet propulsion system with a small battery, transported and recharged using a special energy trailer, built by the trusted partners of the lifeguards. The trailer can also store and recharge drones and vehicles, making the fleet more flexible and less dependent on existing infrastructure, even during natural disasters.

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‍Conclusion

‍This project demonstrated that lifeguard operations can become more sustainable without losing performance. The proposed pilot projects can help create a greener future for rescue missions. Our collaboration with Enviu and the Reddingsbrigade showed that with proper analysis of the use case, environmental benefits can be achieved, potentially helping lifeguards worldwide move towards zero-emission operations.

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