The last post in this series–24–was quite obscure. And this one . . . could be called ex-government boats.
The foto below comes thanks to Scott Craven, who caught the vessel upbound on the Hudson near the Bear Mountain Bridge. At first I thought it was a re-purposed 65′ WYTL. With a bit of research, however, I learned it’s the retired Massport Marine 1, Howard W. Fitzpatrick (scroll through to the 8th foto). Note the traces of removed signage along her port side. She’s now replaced by American United. Again, scroll though, and you’ll see the folks on Windermere posted a foto of American United high and dry at the Canadian shipyard here. Click here for more info on Massport. Fitzpatrick launched in 1971 from a now inactive shipyard in southern Illinois, just north of St. Louis. So does anyone know where Fitzpatrick is headed? Great Lakes? the Mississippi system? Maybe a reader upriver can report?
On a rainy day back in mid-April, Gary Kane caught this display on the East River, just south of Roosevelt Island.
It was the John D. McKean, a retired FDNY fireboat. McKean was Camden, NJ built about 60 years ago. Anyone know what her future may be?
All this talk of retired fireboats and mention of Gary Kane give me an opportunity to suggest you buy the documentary produced by Gary Kane and myself called Graves of Arthur Kill. One of the major voices/story tellers in that documentary is a retired FDNY engineer.
Thanks to Scott Craven and Gary Kane for use of these fotos.
tugster: a waterblog 
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April 29, 2013 at 10:25 am
walt stevens
Currently the John D McKean is tied up in the NYNSY’s Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The JDM is pulled out of the Yard and backs up the 343, and the New Firefighter II when they are in the shops for repairs that are endemic to their sophisticated designs and systems, furnished and built by the low bidders.
The John D McKean has a job for life, and will probably be around for quite a while. The McKean’s raked smoke stack and the Maltese Cross are really
a welcome sight.
April 30, 2013 at 6:30 am
bowsprite
switches and dials to touch-screen, anyday
May 7, 2013 at 8:06 am
toemandoug
Howard W Fitzpatrick has been docked at the Albany Yacht Club for at least a couple of weeks now. I don’t have any more info that that on her.
May 7, 2013 at 10:17 am
tugster
thanks, toemandoug. maybe waiting for the canal to open? when does the canal open?
May 8, 2013 at 9:47 am
toemandoug
The NYS Canal opened for the season on May 1. The Federal Lock at Troy allowed boats to pass at least a week prior to that. HWF was still docked on the Hudson as of 5/5 PM.
May 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Anonymous
Howard W Fitzpatrick is in Oswego for a couple of days, then heading onto Lake Huron.
May 21, 2013 at 10:02 am
tugster
anon– thanks for the update. happy travels on the great lakes, HWF!
June 14, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Port Huron Gathering XII | tugboathunter
[…] other St. Clair River news, a few days after these were taken on 6/1, the former Massport fireboat Howard W. Fitzpatrick appeared at Sarnia’s Government Dock. Who the owner is or what their plans are remain […]
July 3, 2013 at 11:40 am
kass
I saw this fireboat in Southampton Harbour on Sunday.
July 4, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Cam
HWF – tied up in Southampton Ontario Canada
July 7, 2013 at 10:13 am
Anonymous
In Southampton,Ontario Canada. See http://www.saugeentimes.com/ and look fpr article about “Unusal vessel in Soutjampton harbour”
July 10, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Anonymous
Looks like the new owner of the Howard W. Fitzpatrick is Willey’e Contracting of Southampton. Not sure what plans they have. See http://www.willyscontracting.com/ for their web site.
June 9, 2014 at 9:21 am
Matt
I have been watching the Howard W Fitzpatrick placing research bouys on Inverhuron Bay just north of Kincardine Ontario Canada. Thought I would google and ran across this site