Oil Patch Bits: Foss honors new fireboat in Seattle shipyard

The first of two new technologically advanced fireboats under construction by Foss Maritime for the Port of Long Beach was dedicated in a blessing ceremony on May 1 at Foss Maritime’s Seattle shipyard.

The vessel, named Fireboat 20, is being readied for service and is scheduled for delivery to Long Beach, California, this summer. Gary Faber, Foss senior vice president, made opening remarks and praised the hardworking men and women who helped construct the vessel. Peter Forsythe, Port of Long Beach deputy chief harbor engineer, spoke with excitement about the forthcoming delivery, and Mike Magill, vice president of Foss’ Technical Services, introduced the Rev. David Marshall of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church of Shoreline who blessed the vessel, and Xavier Espino, battalion chief of the Long Beach Fire Department, and his wife Colleen, who had the honor of breaking the ceremonial bottle of champagne across the Fireboat 20’s mighty hull.

Fireboat 20 has a Voith Schneider Cycloidal propulsion system that allows for exceptional maneuverability, a firefighting system with a pumping capacity of 41,000 gallons per minute, and seven caterpillar engines. It is designed to be a state-of-the-art command center, with a CBRN System that protects the firefighters from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

A second fireboat for the Port of Long Beach is under construction and will be delivered in late 2014 or early 2015.