Silver Ships Inc., Mobile, Ala., will commission a multimission patrol boat for New York's Long Island in Montauk Harbor tomorrow. The 38' boat is the latest addition in Silver Ships’ expanding fireboat series.
The boat is a multiagency, multimission vessel designed for emergency response and patrol within Montauk Harbor. The vessel was built through the collaborative efforts of the Montauk Fire Department, the East Hampton Town Police Department, East Hampton Town Marine Patrol, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Because it is in operation across multiple government agencies, the boat also supports search and rescue missions, law enforcement and firefighting. The vessel’s main mission will be focused on law enforcement and patrolling the waters of Montauk, East Hampton and the surrounding areas. It will also be used by the fire department as needed and can even serve in place of Coast Guard patrol vessels if the situation arises.
“It is imperative that law enforcement, fire and other agencies work together to keep the public safe, which is our primary intent through the use of our new patrol boat,” Ed Michels, chief harbormaster at East Hampton Town Police Department, said in a prepared statement. “This boat epitomizes interoperability and is a symbol of multi-agency cooperation. We are extremely pleased with how well this vessel operates specifically for our varied missions, and we’re looking forward to officially dedicating it to the community in a public ceremony.”
The vessel includes enhanced features such as shock absorbing seats, upgraded side-sonar scan to support search and rescue, state and commercial band radios, the latest in radar and chart plotter technology and more. Additionally, the boat includes remote fire monitoring on the roof, which permits fires to be fought at a closer distance but with the added protection of controlling water flow from inside the cabin. The vessel is also equipped for and capable of transporting patients. It has a full walk-around cabin and easy access to the bow. Triple Yamaha 300-hp outboards enable the boat to reach speeds in excess of 43 miles per hour, which is key in emergency response.
Silver Ships first built a similar vessel for the East Hampton Fire Department more than 15 years ago, and the department recently returned to Silver Ships when it was time for an upgrade. “It’s always exciting to have the chance to work with a longstanding client on a project to help them meet their updated mission-specific needs,” Jason Powers, director of business development for Silver Ships, said the prepared release. “This was a unique vessel to build due to the many responsibilities it will have on the water — it showcases the latest in fire and patrol technology for watercraft without diminishing overall durability and quality. We’re confident it will serve the fire and law departments and their community well for years to come.”
