The state took delivery of two of the tallest aerial rescue ladders that can reach up to 104 m (341 ft), earning the distinction of being the first in the country besides entering into the club of the metropolises across the world having the 104 m HLA (High Level Articulated).
The vehicles were shipped from Port of Turku and reached the city earlier this month, and were taken delivery on Wednesday from Kamarajar Port Trust. The world's tallest aerial ladders (112 m) are being manufactured by Bronto Skylift, and the 104 m vehicles delivered here are the second tallest aerial ladder in the world.
These truck-mounted ladders were purchased at a cost of Rs 39.74 crore each from Finland-based firm.The purchased 104 m HLA can reach a maximum rescue height of 104 m, and the maximum working outreach will be 30 m.
The platform's safe working load is 500 kg while it can pump as much as 3,800 litres per minute, and requires 4 m height clearance for transportation. The state had already purchased a skylift of 54 m recently for Rs 5.97 crore recently.