Moose Boat Delivers Rescue Fire Boat

Moose Boats, an aluminum boat manufacturer recently delivered a M1-44 Fire/Rescue boat to the Lewes Fire Department of Lewes, DE. This vessel was designed to meet mission-specific needs for firefighting, search and rescue, medical, incident command, and regional, all weather response in a region covering the Delaware Bay, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Roosevelt Inlet, Broadkill River, smaller tributaries, and approximately 50 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean.

Lewes Fire Department took delivery of the vessel in December 2008 and is currently undergoing a rigorous training program for boat operators with a targeted in-service date of May 2009.

The M1-44 is an off-shore 44 ft aluminum catamaran powered by twin Cummins QSC 8.3 ltr 600HP turbo diesels and is propelled by Hamilton 322 water jets. This vessel features a hydraulically driven fire fighting system pumping 900 gpm to twin deck mounted monitors forward and aft. In addition to fire fighting capabilities, the boat features ample scene lighting for night time response incidents, a remote controlled thermal imaging camera, 9kw generator, ample walk-around cabin, forward stowage and seating for up to 10 crew/passengers.

The vessel will serve as a multi-agency, regional response command post on the water during a large incident of terrorism or mass casualty. Lewes Fire Department has established working relationships to provide mutual aid to many different agencies in the region including: USCG, Delaware State Police, Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources in addition to numerous regional fire departments. The vessel will serve in a response and rescue capacity for the surrounding waterways which are heavily trafficked by cargo and passenger vessels. Every year more than 70 million tons of cargo is transported via the Delaware Bay. Approximately 11% of the imported crude oil to the United States is transported to 6 major refineries along the Delaware River.

Moose Boats has constructed and delivered over 45 water-jet vessels, of similar design, for the U.S. Navy and various law enforcement agencies nation-wide.

Specifications:
• Length o.a.    43 ft 8 inches
• Beam    16 ft
• Draft Hull/Max    25 inches
• Dead Rise (aft)    15 degress
• Displacement    28,500 lbs (dry)
• Fuel    480 gal
• Max Speed    40+ knots
• Service Speed    Approx. 30 knots
• Range    300+ nautical miles

Propulsion & Equipment:
• Twin Cummins QSC8.3 600hp Turbo Diesels
• Twin Hamilton HJ322 Water Jets
• Marine Gears, Twin Disc MG5075
• Furuno “Nav Net” Electronics with 6kw Radar
• 9 kw Northern Lights Generator
• WING Hybrid Boarding Collar
• Waterous CGVK Bronze Fire Pump
• Twin Task Force Tips Deck Mounted Monitors
• FLIR “Navigator” Thermal Imaging Camera