This is the same Hytrans system from the Netherlands, which has been adopted by many fire services in Northern Europe, including the UK, as well as the USA and numerous other countries. It includes a hydraulic generator powered by a diesel engine, with its hoses leading to a floating hydraulic powered pump, and a separate container on the same chassis, with several kilometers of 150 mm LDH. This is usually fitted with a multiple distributor with five 70 mm outlets. It can supply branches and/ or monitors directly, or - more often -relay water to multiple pumpers at the fireground.
The big advantage of the system is that it can access open water up to 15 meters below where the power unit is parked, and up to 60 meters upstream or downstream. In addition, because the pump itself is floating, it suffers from no friction losses, unlike a conventional pumper using suction hoses. For these reasons, it is much more powerful and much more versatile than any standard pumper, and comes close to being as effective as many fireboats are, when it comes to supplying large volumes of water from a river, lake, canal or other water source.
The big advantage of the system is that it can access open water up to 15 meters below where the power unit is parked, and up to 60 meters upstream or downstream. In addition, because the pump itself is floating, it suffers from no friction losses, unlike a conventional pumper using suction hoses. For these reasons, it is much more powerful and much more versatile than any standard pumper, and comes close to being as effective as many fireboats are, when it comes to supplying large volumes of water from a river, lake, canal or other water source.
Added by Rob Johnson on 16 May 2025.