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. (32 m) steel fireboat, currently under construction at Nichols Bros. of Freeland, Wash. will also join the upgraded fleet in 2002.

Each having a beam of 14 ft. (4.2 m), the fireboats will be powered by twin Caterpillar 3126B engines, driving 27-in. propellers through Twin Disc MG-507A gears. A third Caterpillar 3126B engine will be installed as a designated fire engine. The designer predicts that the vessels will be able to move at 27-plus knots when fully loaded and a cruising speed of 25 knots.

Each vessel will also have a Hale fire pump with a 2,400 gpm capacity and a Stang 925545 fire monitor.