VESSEL REVIEW | Fire Boat 28 – New Jersey fire departments acquire response boat

The East Dover Fire Company and the Toms River Fire District 1, two emergency response agencies operating in New Jersey, have taken delivery of a new all-aluminium firefighting boat built by Louisiana-based Metal Shark Boats.

Fire Boat 28 has a length of 25 feet (7.62 metres), a beam of 8.5 feet (2.59 metres), a draught of 18 inches (0.45 metre), and seating for up to four people. Power is provided by two Suzuki 200hp (149kW) four-stroke outboard engines.

The vessel boasts a Metal Shark hull design that has been engineered and built to deliver maximum economy, performance, and longevity. A narrow beam means the vessel can be easily transported by trailer, and the vessel itself is powerful enough to perform light towing work if needed.

The deck layout allows for safe and easy access. Also notable are the generous bow flare, the deep freeboard, and a roomy self-bailing helm area. A lone operator can easily handle navigation due to all instrumentation being installed front and centre in a large dashboard and the vessel controls placed within easy reach.

For firefighting, the boat relies on an array of equipment including a CET Vanguard pump with a maximum flow rate of 650 gallons per minute (2,460 litres per minute) and a smooth-bore monitor mounted on the bow. A dive door and a dive ladder will enable the vessel to also be used for water rescues. Emergency response missions during low-light conditions are possible thanks to a radar and sonars from Raymarine, LED searchlights and floodlights, and a rotating thermal camera.

Onboard space is available for the storage of additional firefighting and water rescue equipment such as portable extinguishers, lifejackets, and scuba gear.

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