and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons announced this week.

Government, which must take over air operations from the US Navy on June 1, is paying $1.14 million, including shipping, for three T-3000 fire trucks from Oshkosh Trucking Corp. of Wisconsin.

The new trucks are expected to arrive at the end of June, and the Navy is loaning Bermuda its fire trucks until they go into service, Dr. Gibbons said in a news release.

"The Navy offer, which we have accepted, is a reflection of their commitment to achieving a seamless transfer of Airport responsibilities to Bermuda,'' Dr.

Gibbons said. "We appreciate it.'' Mr. Charles McNeil of Bermuda's Airport contractor Serco Aviation Services, said Oshkosh was recognised as "the pace-setters in crash fire rescue vehicles,'' and Bermuda's choice was the most economical one for the capabilities it would receive.

The 36-foot T-3000 has a 3,000-gallon water tank and a 420-gallon foam tank.

Its firing range is 150 feet.

Two of the three vehicles will be equipped with a dry chemical system for firefighting required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

"The US Navy offered to leave Bermuda their four Oshkosh P-4 crash fire rescue vehicles which were built in 1970,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

But a Government study showed Bermuda would save about $300,000 a year in manpower costs by buying the new trucks.

Only two T-3000s are needed to be manned for 24-hour duty, compared to three of the smaller Navy P-4s. And the new trucks operate with shifts of five firefighters, compared to seven needed on the Navy trucks.

"Serco expects to hire nearly a dozen Bermudians who are currently in the USNAS Fire Department and trained in crash fire rescue skills,'' Dr. Gibbons said. "Bermudian recruits are also to be hired and trained. In the meantime, Serco will hire trained...firefighters from abroad to fill the manpower gap.'' Serco believes all its firefighters will be Bermudian by August of 1996.

MIGHTY SPRAY -- Rather than accepting the US Navy's 25-year-old Airport fire trucks, Bermuda is buying three new T-3000 models like this one for a total of $1.14 million.