The most powerful M2-38 fire boat ever built by Moose Boats, LLC, based in Vallejo, Ca., was recently turned over to the Alameda Fire Department (AFD) in California.
“This build was a real challenge and couldn’t have been accomplished without great support from our vendors,” said Moose Boats GM Steve Dirkes.
“Robert Bowe at Cummins really helped us through the whole build, and brought Auto-Maskin, MER Equipment, and American Vulkan to the table to help get this powerful firefighting system approved by all parties,” he added.
The new 5086 alloy M2-38 catamaran hull is divided into three watertight compartments fitted with high-capacity bilge pumps, high water alarms, water-tight hatches, cabin- and forward-access doors and collar buoyancy.
The boat is powered by twin Cummins turbo charged QSB 6.7L 480hp engines with two 150-gallon fuel tanks, Twin Disc Transmissions, and Hamilton HJX 29 waterjets.
The boat also features two Darley 2,000 gallons-per-minute (GPM) fire pumps powered by power-takeoff systems that enable full control at the helm while flowing close to 5,000 GPM – a volume of water usually only seen in the 50-foot or larger vessel classes.
With that pumping capacity, the fire department “has significantly increased its emergency water supply and fire suppression capabilities,” the AFD said. Overall vessel speed can reach up to 38 knots with a cruise speed of 30 knots.
The catamaran design “allows for optimal maneuvering with lateral crawl to port and to starboard with absolute stability,” according to Moose Boats.
Included in the design is an extended cab for water rescue and dive team equipment and a separate navigational/communications station located behind the helm, while, on the port side, there is ample storage with a full 8-foot-long patient bench.
Instrumentation includes four Raymarine 12-inch MFD screens with chart plotter/radar overlay, FLIR, Reverse Image Camera, ICOM VHF radios, Department Motorola radios and Auto-Maskin Engine Displays. For nighttime operations, the boat is equipped with thirteen 20-inch Rigid light bars casting over 15,000 raw lumens per light.
Task Force Tips provided four monitors and 10 handline outlets to complement two threaded discharges and two Storz discharges for large diameter hoses, making the boat able to pump water in any situation.
The boat’s cabin features forward leaning/glare free windows, overhead view ports, tempered safety glass, thermal and sound insulation, ballistic nylon upholstered crew seats, vinyl padded headliner, and LED red/white lighting.
The new fireboat is also equipped with integral 4-point lifting lugs; bow and spring line cleats; fore and aft bollards; self-bailing decks; large grab rails; anchor and ground tackle stowage; a hybrid air/foam fendering collar; an outboard engine guard; and a polyurethane paint system.
The AFD provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Alameda, which is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The agency works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and also acts as part of the Alameda County Mutual Aid System.
Amongst the four Type-1 engines, two ladder trucks, four ALS ambulances and one CARE unit, the department cross staffs their fire boat with a rescue unit, two water tenders, a dive team, and an OES Type-1 engine company.
Moose Boats LLC, a division of the Lind Marine shipyard, builds aluminum vessels that are designed to meet a variety of mission-specific applications for law enforcement, fire/rescue, security, and military applications.
The company has built and delivered more than 100 vessels of similar design for the U.S. Navy and various law enforcement and firefighting agencies nationwide.