Fireboats

Kvichak Delivers L.A. Fireboat

The Port of Los Angeles recently welcomed the arrival of Fireboat #1, the first of three 39 ft. boats constructed by Kvichak Marine Industries and designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants. Stationed at Terminal Island, California, Fireboat #1 is the first vessel to kick-off the replacement program of the Port's aging fireboat fleet. Later this year, the deliveries of Fireboat #3 & Fireboat #5 will complete the phase-out of the two remaining 35-year old boats. With a 39 ft. 3 in. overall length and a beam of 13 ft. 6in., the all-aluminum fireboat powered by twin Caterpillar 3126B engines driving 24" propellers through Twin Disc MG-5075A gears, reaches a top-end speed of ~29 knots while fully loaded. Fireboat #1 utilizes a Cummins 6BTA5.9-M3 dedicated fire pump engine, directly coupled to a Hale 80-FC 2400 GPM pump. A Stang 925545 fire monitor provides 1000 GPM of water flow. In addition, Fireboat #1 has a 50-gallon AR firefighting foam capacity. The vessel will be called into action for various missions including firefighting and rescue, patrol and inspection, emergency medical service, and homeland security patrol. "Fireboat #1 has a very solid and durable feel and handling is responsive and true at all speeds," said Doug Moore, engineer for the Fire Department. "Upgrading the Port's emergency watercraft fleet was a necessity and this vessel is the first step in improving the safety of the Port of Los Angeles."

Jensen to Design Fireboat for San Francisco

Fireboat to be Equipped with Six Fire Monitors and 26 Manifold Valves for High-Volume Water and/or Foam Firefighting.     Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc., a Crowley company, has been chosen to design a custom "super pumper" fireboat to enhance the City of San Francisco Fire Department's (SFFD) marine fire fighting and response capabilities on water.   This high-volume water and foam pumping NFPA Type II fireboat will feature six fire monitors and 26 manifold

NYFD Awards Fireboat Contract

Robert Allan Ltd. won a contract by the Fire Department of New York for the, design and construction administration of a major new fireboat. The new vessel will replace the venerable, but aging, Fire Fighter. The contract for design and construction administration was bid internationally, and awarded to Robert Allan Ltd. on the basis of qualifications and experience with major high-performance fireboats. The new vessel will be approximately 130 ft . (40 m) long, have a service speed of 17

Fireboat Delivered to Port of Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Fire Department has accepted its new fireboat which is en route from Freeland, Wash. to its homeport. The fireboat left March 21, and is expected to take 5 to 6 days. This voyage is the culmination of an eight year long process to create a new generation of marine fire-fighting capability in Los Angeles. Built over an eighteen month period (started on September 11, 2001) by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, the new fireboat was designed by Robert Allan Ltd

Kvichak Marine Delivers

Kvichak Marine recently delivered a 40-ft. Fast Response fireboat to the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD). Designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle, the fireboat has a beam of 13.5 ft. and is powered by twin Caterpillar 3126B engines coupled to Twin Disc MG-5075A gears, which provide a speed of ~27 knots. To optimize vessel control and firefighting capacity, LACFD chose a Cummins 6BTA5.9-M3 dedicated fire pump engine, directly coupled to a Hale 80-FC 2400 GPM pump

Wynn Installs Wipers for Fireboat

Wynn Marine has completed the installation of a window wiping system for a new Los Angeles Fireboat. The high-tech vessel is in production for the Los Angeles Fire Department by Nichols Bros. Boat Builders, based in Washington. The boat has been commissioned to serve the L.A. Port area. The wiper system is based on the Type C Internal motor Straight line wiper from Wynn’s heavy duty Ocean Range. This system offers the most advanced

NYC Fireboats Provide Critical Support

Long considered relics from days gone by, the Fire Department of New York Fireboats have played in an important role in supplying the fire fighting water to battle the blazes at the World Trade Center for the first 36 hours. The fireboats acting as floating pumping stations are manned by NYFD engineering members from the nation's oldest maritime union, the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association District 1. These firefighters are said to have been on a 24 hour on and 24 hour off schedule

Port of Los Angeles To Welcome Trio of Aluminum Fireboats

Subsequent to a lengthy bidding process, the Port of Los Angeles will receive a trio of three all-aluminum fireboats, which will be constructed by Kvichak Marine Industries. Measuring 39 ft. (11.8 m) each, the vessels will be designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle. The three new vessels, which will be named Fireboat #1, #3 and #5, will be stationed throughout the Port of L.A. and are scheduled to replace three existing vessels that are each more than 35 years old. A 105-ft

Boston Fireboat to be Replaced

According to reports, Boston’s aging fireboat has broken down again and is in a Gloucester repair shop, leaving the waterfront without a major city apparatus to protect it. The 30-year-old boat called Firefighter is about to be replaced, though, by a tricked-out waterborne homeland security vessel that is reported to cost up to $10 million. The 76-ft., Firefighter has been plagued with problems and is undergoing structural repairs. That leaves the smaller St

A Unique new Fireboat for the City of Chicago

In April 2011, The Chicago Fire Department took delivery of a new Fireboat to replace the aging Victor L. Schlaeger. The vessel was named in memory of Firefighter Christopher Wheatley, who lost his life in active duty in 2010. The new vessel was designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver BC, and was built by Hike Metal Products of (serendipitously!) Wheatley, Ontario. This fireboat is one of several fireboats designed by Robert Allan Ltd