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in other words, the newest, pumpingest FDNY boat, which–if it serves as many years as Firefighter has–will be in service beyond 2080. 343 is the vessel facing in the lower left, the one not spraying yet. The year 2080, now that’s a world I cannot imagine, but as to today’s welcome . . . enjoy the fotos.
Just the facts: one of two, designed by Naval Architects Robert Allan LTD. The pressurized cabin offers protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear contamination. Dimensions: 140′ x 36′ x 9′ with four 2000 hp MTU diesels. Screws are approximately two-meter diameter controllable pitch Hundestedts. Crew of seven. Top pump output: 50,000 gpm. Price tag: $27 million.
Many thanks to fireboat.org and the John J. Harvey for my ride. Click here for google images (including bowsprite’s) of the Harvey, and here for info on Jessica Dulong’s book, in which Harvey plays a pivotal role. Harvey cranked up her own water display.
Our Lady (herself once damaged by a terror explosion in 1916) offered her welcome, and
rainbows arced hither and yon over the sixth boro, here created by John D. McKean.
The forward ballast tank allows 343 to lower the bow into the water to ease people transfer.
Once past the Statue, she passed Ellis Island and then
headed over toward Lower Manhattan, where
she paused,
placed a wreath for the three hundred forty-three firefighters who died in that event back in 2001, before
the three large FDNY boats diverged, here left to right, 343, Firefighter, and John D. McKean.
Welcome. No one knows what events she faces. I wish her an uneventful and boring life.
All fotos, Will Van Dorp.
For old salt’s perspective . . . click here.
For video of her launch at Eastern Ship Building in Panama City, Florida, click here.
Just the facts: Firefighter entered service in 1938 designed by Gibbs and Cox (who also designed the SS United States and the LCS) . . . to last and last and last. And she has. Firefighter is not only the oldest active-duty FDNY vessel but also
she who can deliver the highest gpm (20,000) through her pumps. One of Firefighter‘s finest moments occured in 1973 . . . after the collision of Sea Witch and Esso Brussels. just north of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. See great text and fotos of that accident here. Salvaged portions of Sea Witch live on in Chemical Pioneer, still a regular in the sixth boro. See her (Witch Pioneer) stern in this tugster post from a year ago.
Dimensions: Built in Staten Island. 134′ x 32′ x 9′ with twin 16-cylinder 1500 hp engines. gCaptain wrote about it here. Watch a very informative 18-minute video here.
The Rolls-Royce of fireboats . . .
All fotos by Will Van Dorp in early March 2010.
If you’re still in the mood for video, you might check out this new site for cruiser USS Olympia (C-6), featuring new reels of the battleship parading up the Hudson with Dewey on board in 1899, post-Battle of Manila Bay and Spanish-American War. The second newsreel has the best video, 1899 technology. Olympia today is is ship in trouble.
tugster: a waterblog 
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