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Portuguese Navy Equipped with New Ultra-Modern Kärcher Decontamination Systems
Winnenden, August 2005 – The Portuguese Navy with its headquarters in Lisbon has just received two new fully equipped mobile RIDS 1400 GT-GDS decontamination systems from Kärcher (RIDS = Rapid Intervention Decontamination System). With the commissioning of these systems, a total of eleven ultra-modern, mobile and flexible decontamination systems of the RIDS 1400 type is now in service with the Portuguese Armed Forces.
RIDS 1400 GT-GDS decontamination system
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Delegation Of Portugal
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The introduction of the systems in the Navy was preceded by positive experiences gained in the Army. Since last year, the Portuguese Army has been relying on nine RIDS 1400 GT systems. Due to this upgrade of their decontamination equipment, the Portuguese Navy and the Portuguese Army are able to react more rapidly and more flexibly on possible contamination risks, which might be caused especially by terrorist attacks nowadays. The MPDS (Multi-Purpose Decontamination Module) which the Portuguese Armed Forces had procured several years before, the complex DECOCONTAIN-type decontamination system, DS 10 decontamination spraying devices and Kärcher NBC protective suits make the decontamination equipment from Kärcher more complete.
Operational Conception:
The RIDS 1400 GT-GDS (Rapid Intervention Decontamination System) enables the successful carrying out of the following decontamination tasks directly on site. This includes the decontamination of NBC contaminated surfaces, such as:
Equipment
The RIDS system stands out due to its high mobility. All appliances, components and decontamination chemicals needed for the carrying out of the decontamination tasks are mounted in a framework on a single-axle trailer (with a total admissible weight of 2 to). Due to this design, a complete decontamination site can be set up quickly and easily in the field, and relocated if needed. A semi-automatic roof framework protects the appliances and operators against the influences of the weather. If an appropriate carrier vehicle is available (e.g. trailer, pick-up or truck) the RIDS 1400 G would be the suitable system version. This system version is also integrated into a framework, however the roof framework is replaced by a weather protection tarpaulin.
Decontamination Modules:
For the simultaneous decontamination of vehicles, consisting of pre-treatment, main treatment and post-treatment, the follwong modules are used:
Persons are decontaminated in an inflatable tent in which a field shower is placed. Two persons can take a shower at the same time. The shower is equipped with two shower pipes: one pipe enables the automatic addition of decontamination agents whereas the second pipe carries clean clear water for rinsing off the decontamination agent. Due to this intelligent division, up to 120 people can be decontaminated per hour.
Electrical Power, Water
The electrical consumers are supplied with current from a diesel generator. A foldable 3,000 l tank, which is part of the system, makes the system independent of an external water supply network. However, the self-sucking module pumps enable also the direct intake of water from open water sources.
Decontamination Chemicals
Different decontamination tasks require especially matched decontamination agents. The RIDS 1400 GT-GDS is equipped with the appropriate decontamination agents for N, B and C decontamination and the decontamination of persons. Highly concentrated active ingredients ensure the economical and cost-effective application of these agents – without making concessions in efficiency.
The new GDS 2000 decontamination solution can be considered a revolutionary decontamination agent. The C decontamination of surfaces or vehicles requires only 0.2 l/m² of GDS 2000 liquid instead of approx. 3 litres of conventional decontaminants per square meter – while the decontamination efficiency remains unchanged. Several independent military test institutes have confirmed this impressive result. Apart from this, GDS 2000 can be used at temperatures from –30 °C to +49 °C - quite a large range of application compared to the known conventional decontamina-tion agents, while meeting all operational criteria of the NATO without any restrictions. In addition, GDS 2000 stands out due to its good compatibility with the envi-ronment (water pollution class 1 and “28 day OECD 301 D Test“) and is biologically degradable. GDS 2000 is already in service with the German Bundeswehr, the Italian Civil Defence and the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other nations will soon receive this revolutionary decontamination agent together with the delivery of new decontamination systems.
Operational Conception:
The RIDS 1400 GT-GDS (Rapid Intervention Decontamination System) enables the successful carrying out of the following decontamination tasks directly on site. This includes the decontamination of NBC contaminated surfaces, such as:
- Decontamination of vehicles
- Decontamination of material
- Decontamination of persons
- Decontamination of road and terrain sections
Equipment
The RIDS system stands out due to its high mobility. All appliances, components and decontamination chemicals needed for the carrying out of the decontamination tasks are mounted in a framework on a single-axle trailer (with a total admissible weight of 2 to). Due to this design, a complete decontamination site can be set up quickly and easily in the field, and relocated if needed. A semi-automatic roof framework protects the appliances and operators against the influences of the weather. If an appropriate carrier vehicle is available (e.g. trailer, pick-up or truck) the RIDS 1400 G would be the suitable system version. This system version is also integrated into a framework, however the roof framework is replaced by a weather protection tarpaulin.
Decontamination Modules:
For the simultaneous decontamination of vehicles, consisting of pre-treatment, main treatment and post-treatment, the follwong modules are used:
- EWP 3000 (Electrical Water Pump) - Pre-treatment -
A compact, self-sucking pump delivers water at a flow rate of up to 4000 litres/hour and a pressure of 10 bar.
- AMGDS 1000 (Module for the Application of GDS 2000) - Main treatment -
Direct suction and application of the new GDS 2000 decontamination solution using a spray lance.
- MPDS (Multi-Purpose Decontamination Module) - Post-treatment -
Cleaning with hot steam at a system temperature of 140 °C. The MPDS is also used for the application of decontaminants for N or B decontamination.
- The decontamination of persons is carried out using the HWM 3000 (Hot Water Module)
The HWM 3000 ensures the supply of a field shower with hot water.
Persons are decontaminated in an inflatable tent in which a field shower is placed. Two persons can take a shower at the same time. The shower is equipped with two shower pipes: one pipe enables the automatic addition of decontamination agents whereas the second pipe carries clean clear water for rinsing off the decontamination agent. Due to this intelligent division, up to 120 people can be decontaminated per hour.
Electrical Power, Water
The electrical consumers are supplied with current from a diesel generator. A foldable 3,000 l tank, which is part of the system, makes the system independent of an external water supply network. However, the self-sucking module pumps enable also the direct intake of water from open water sources.
HWM 3000
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AMGDS 1000
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MPDS
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Decontamination Chemicals
Different decontamination tasks require especially matched decontamination agents. The RIDS 1400 GT-GDS is equipped with the appropriate decontamination agents for N, B and C decontamination and the decontamination of persons. Highly concentrated active ingredients ensure the economical and cost-effective application of these agents – without making concessions in efficiency.
The new GDS 2000 decontamination solution can be considered a revolutionary decontamination agent. The C decontamination of surfaces or vehicles requires only 0.2 l/m² of GDS 2000 liquid instead of approx. 3 litres of conventional decontaminants per square meter – while the decontamination efficiency remains unchanged. Several independent military test institutes have confirmed this impressive result. Apart from this, GDS 2000 can be used at temperatures from –30 °C to +49 °C - quite a large range of application compared to the known conventional decontamina-tion agents, while meeting all operational criteria of the NATO without any restrictions. In addition, GDS 2000 stands out due to its good compatibility with the envi-ronment (water pollution class 1 and “28 day OECD 301 D Test“) and is biologically degradable. GDS 2000 is already in service with the German Bundeswehr, the Italian Civil Defence and the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other nations will soon receive this revolutionary decontamination agent together with the delivery of new decontamination systems.
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