Budapest Police Modernise Danube Fleet with a New High-Tech Patrol Boat

The Danube Water Police Unit of the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) is modernising its fleet. At the Kopaszi Dam area, the authorities presented their newest tool for ensuring safety on the river: the specially built MS BOAT C10, which is scheduled to enter service in 2026. Equipped with advanced technologies, the vessel was designed specifically to meet the diverse needs of river operations and police duties.

Lieutenant Colonel Richárd Prohászka presented the multifunctional Polish-made craft, which was purpose-built for the demands of policing on the water. According to him, the new boat offers significantly improved operational capabilities compared to previous units in the same category. “Our previous boats of this class are lower and smaller; this one can even be boarded more easily. In the forward section, there is room for more rescued people as well as technical equipment,” he explained.

The MS BOAT C10, designed for year-round use, is equipped with a high-performance radar and a modern sonar system supporting search-and-rescue missions, while two side doors located just above the waterline make it easier to recover people from the river. An integrated ladder system also supports professional diving operations, ensuring that the crew is prepared for a wide range of emergency situations.

During test runs, the vessel’s 600-horsepower engine moved the 6.5-tonne boat from the Kopaszi Dam to the Parliament building in a remarkably short time, demonstrating both speed and manoeuvrability in river conditions.

Despite these technological advances, Prohászka stressed the need for caution, noting that weather conditions on the river can change rapidly and that opportunities for corrective action in flowing water are extremely limited. His advice to all water users — from paddlers to motorboat operators — was straightforward: know the currents, check the forecast, and always keep protective equipment ready. “Severe weather conditions can develop quickly, and this applies not only to the Danube but to any open body of water. You need to be familiar with the characteristics of the water surface you are heading to, as well as with the craft you are using, whether it is a SUP board or a motor vessel,” he warned.

IDR Comment

The renewal of the Budapest Danube Water Police fleet reflects a broader trend toward strengthening specialised safety capacity on the Danube. This is not merely a technical upgrade of one police unit, but part of a wider adaptation of river services to new challenges, including increasing navigation intensity, the growth of tourism, and higher demands for rapid search-and-rescue response. Across the Danube macro-region, water safety is increasingly combining policing, civil protection, emergency assistance, and navigation monitoring functions. For the Ukrainian section of the Danube, this example is particularly relevant in light of the need to modernise specialised service fleets, develop river safety infrastructure, and enhance the technical readiness of agencies operating under growing pressure on inland waterways.