Today’s emergency response vessels are specialty-built, multi-mission boats constructed from designs by manufacturers like Moose Boats, Vallejo, Calif.; MetalCraft Marine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; and North River Boats, Roseberg, Ore. Here are the latest deliveries from these three shipyards.
BOSTON BOAT
A prime example of a new emergency response vessel came from Moose Boats, which delivered a 46’x16’ aluminum catamaran emergency response vessel to the Boston Fire Department’s Special Operations Dive Team at the end of 2024. The boat, which was funded internally and has accommodations for 12 crew/passengers, was built using the shipyard’s M1 design.
“This vessel will be used specifically by the dive team for search and rescue,” said Ken Royal, Moose’s vice president of sales. “The ample room afforded by this catamaran will allow for storage of the vast array of dive equipment and specialized sonar gear needed to run their missions.”
Main propulsion comes from a pair of Cummins QSC 8.3-liter diesel engines producing 600 hp each. The mains connect to HamiltonJet HJ322 waterjets through Twin Disc 5075SC marine gears, giving the boat a running speed of 40 knots. Ship’s service power is the responsibility of a 9-kW Cummins Onan diesel generator with remote panel.
Ancillary equipment includes heated decks and heated windshields, enclosed flushing head, proprietary flush mounted dive ladder, proprietary dive cylinder bracket mounts with folding bench seating, saltwater and freshwater washdown stations, 275 gpm transom mounted firefighting pump, and 50-amp shore-power service.
“The cabin is thermostatically controlled with both heating and AC for crew and victim comfort,” said Royal. “Because this vessel will be operating throughout the waterways of Boston, Moose Boats has installed heated decks to ensure good footing by preventing ice buildup during winter conditions.”
The electronics suite includes two Raymarine Axiom 12 multifunction displays (MFDs) with heading sensor for GPS/radar overlay; AVX Express Control System with autopilot; two ICOM 424 VHF radios; FLIR M625CS; Raymarine AIS trans/receiver 700; Klein 600 sonar with multiple outlets and dedicated station; and 2.5-kW inverter/charger with remote monitoring panel.
Moose is building a second vessel for the Boston Fire Department, an M2-38 jet-powered catamaran specifically to be used for firefighting and rescue operations. The boat, currently under construction, will have a hydraulically driven opening bow door to assist with beaching operations.
Having two hulls allows for a stable beach landing so that crew can safely disembark and board while carrying patients on backboards and other equipment necessary to the operation. The firefighting system will consist of two Darley fire pumps powered off a power-takeoff system that will have a combined flow of approximately 4,100 gpm.
“Both of the Moose Boats’ M1-46 and M2-38 catamarans provide for a more comfortable ride in heavy sea conditions relative to any monohull of like size,” said Royal. “Additionally, these vessels are easier to maneuver due to the wide separation between port and starboard propulsion systems. The combination between level (due to having two hulls) and smooth riding conditions allows for crew comfort and less fatigue when responding to emergencies.”
VIRGIN ISLANDS BOAT
MetalCraft Marine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, delivered a FireStorm 43/44 model fireboat to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
The patrol and fire versions of the 43/44 have been extremely successful for MetalCraft since the first boat was launched in 2020. That vessel, a patrol boat with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear detection capabilities for the Los Angeles port police, was awarded the Significant Boat of the Year award at the New Orleans International WorkBoat Show.
The 43/44, as its name implies, can be 43’ or stretched to 44’. Its hull shape is a departure from the earlier FireStorms as it has been modified to closely resemble the Interceptor fine entry hull shape. Unlike previous FireStorms, it has a 22° aft deadrise versus the 18° and is considered a variable deadrise hull. The original aft delta pad was maintained to be able to get on plane with much higher weights.
The boat’s structure is designed to ISO 12215 Category B — that’s 9’ to16’ wave heights — and stability also to ISO 12217 Category B. The cabin features sliding doors and 6’10” headroom, and the cuddy cabin has twin patient berths. The boat has forward and side spotter windows for coming alongside island freighters or large yachts. The below deck storage includes room for extra SAR gear as well as pails of fire extinguishing foam.
“The USVI Fire Service took one look at this boat and knew this boat could easily service the main island of St. Thomas and neighboring St. John,” said Bob Clark, MetalCraft’s contracts manager, “but they also knew she could handle an ocean crossing over to St. Croix when needed. Normal wave heights during the winter wind season are in the 8’ to 10’ range.”
The boat is powered by three Yamaha 300-hp outboards that translate into 42 knots at full throttle, giving the vessel a range of 230 nautical miles with 10% reserve.
The boat is also fitted with a Darley 1,500-gpm pump that can supply more than 2,000 gpm at 150 PSI.
“The boat will be an asset for all local search and rescue as well as offshore calls,” said Clark. “The Virgins are home to the largest charter boat fleet in the Caribbean and also have the largest mega-yacht fleet in the islands.”
MetalCraft also delivered four of its Interceptor patrol boats to the USVI Natural Resources Police in 2024.
ANOTHER EAST COAST BOAT
North River Boats, Roseberg, Ore., was putting the finishing touches on a new 39’x11’x5’1-1/4” Liberty harbor patrol, law enforcement, and fireboat in early January for an owner who requested anonymity. The aluminum boat has a 23” draft.
“By the time the magazine comes out, we will have delivered the boat,” said Mike Blocher, the manufacturer’s director of sales.
North River Boats’ Liberty model is engineered to be a multipurpose vessel, whether it’s routine patrols, rapid rescue missions, high-stakes emergency, or fire response. Blocher said the vessel represents a significant upgrade to the customer’s marine law enforcement capabilities.
The hybrid Liberty’s design allows for extensive customization, ensuring the vessel meets the specific needs of the mission. It features a protective sponson around its perimeter, designed to reduce the risk of damage to other vessels during close-quarters maneuvers, so that the vessel remains operational even in challenging conditions.
Main propulsion comes from three Mercury SeaPro 350-hp outboards that have four-bladed stainless-steel wheels with 22” pitch that can push the boat through the water at up to 48 knots.
The boat also has a rear cargo deck that measures 10.8’x7.6’, an Imtra SEP100/185T-12v side power bowthruster, room for two crew and up to four passengers, and 300 gals. of gasoline.
The electronics package includes Raymarine, Axiom2 Pro 12 MFD with two displays, Quantum Q24c radar, AIS7000-Class B AIS, FLIR M364C thermal imaging camera with JCU, Standard Horizon GX1800 VHF radios, and Whelen LED package.
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