The first of two new technologically advanced fireboats that
Foss Maritime is building for the Port of Long Beach was dedicated in a
blessing ceremony earlier this month at Foss Maritime’s Seattle shipyard.
Foss Senior Vice President Gary Faber, made opening remarks
during the May 1 ceremony. He praised the hardworking men and women who helped
construct the vessel. Also among the speakers were POLB Deputy Chief Harbor
Engineer Peter Forsythe and Mike Magill, Vice President of Foss’ Technical
Services, who introduced the Rev. David Marshall of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal
Church of Shoreline, who blessed the vessel.
Xavier Espino, Battalion Chief of the Long Beach Fire
Department, was also present, as was his wife Colleen, who had the honor of
breaking the ceremonial bottle of champagne across the fireboat’s hull.
The vessel, named Fireboat 20, is being readied for
service and is scheduled for delivery to Long Beach this summer.
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 as a state-of-the-art command center, with a CBRN (chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear defense) system that protects the
firefighters from threats.
A second fireboat for the Port of Long Beach is also under
construction and is expected to be delivered in late 2014 or early 2015,
according to Foss.
