MetalCraft Marine

Fire torches two houseboats in Sausalito

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:15:56 GMT

Fire torches two houseboats in Sausalito and a MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 responds to the call.

Great photo courtesy of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

Sun, 24 May 2009 01:28:33 GMT

Video: Tampa's FireStorm 70 under construction

Fri, 15 May 2009 07:19:15 GMT

Here's a video created by our customers from Tampa who were recently in-town checking on the progress of their FireStorm 70, presently under construction.

4-alarm fire at the New England Boatworks shipyard

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:47:25 GMT

There's been lots of coverage of a four-alarm fire last week in Portsmouth, RI at the New England Boatworks shipyard.

Some of you might recognize the New England Boatworks : it's famous for building high-tech large racing sailboats including several for skipper Dennis Connor over the years..

Pictured here is one of three MetalCraft Marine FireStorm fireboats that responded to the call.

Pictures of the first of four Kingston 50 Crew/Patrol boats for the Panama Canal Authority

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:58:39 GMT

Here are rollover pictures for MetalCraft Marine Hull #507, a Kingston 50 being built for the Panama Canal Authority .

At MetalCraft Marine, we build all our hulls upside-down, and then we roll-the-hulls-over and then finish vessel construction right-side-up.

We use our outoor 70-ton crane to roll-over the larger hulls and we then attach the housings, which are built separately. This process is what's shown in the photos.

MetalCraft Marine will be building four such vessels for the Panama Canal Authority over the upcoming year.

City of Miami, FL receives a New High-Speed 48 foot Aluminum Fire boat

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:25:28 GMT

City of Miami Department of Fire-Rescue has a new edition to their operations, a bright red FireStorm 48, ready to respond to waterborne emergencies within City of Miami waters as well as the overall region covering the Miami Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) under U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Deputy Fire Chief Brad Dougherty and MetalCraft Marine worked extensively and collectively in the design and construction of the new FireStorm 48.

The custom designed boat is powered by twin Iveco C-13's 770 hp @ 2300 rpm and 364 Hamilton jets putting out speeds of up to 37 knots. Twin Darley 1750 fire pumps provide an impressive water flow approaching 4,000 GPM.

The Vessel is also equipped with the Hamilton Jet - Blue Arrow system, a high level integrated operational control system between the water jets, gearboxes, engines and helm station. There are multiple levels of redundancy for safety. The highlight of the system is the "MouseBoat" maneuvering controller. A mouse similar to the mouse for a computer is shaped like a boat and located on a pad at the console. When the MouseBoat is moved in any direction, the boat will react accordingly for ease of maneuverability.

Additionally, the vessel is equipped with extensive operational components and electronics. Some examples include: NVTI stabilized optics consisting of High Resolution Thermal Imager, High Resolution 432X Zoom Color Camera, Ultra Low Lux Day/Night Camera integrated into Furuno large screen stations with Radar/Tracking, GPS Chartplotting, Dual Frequency Sonar/Sounder; Weatherfax; VHFs; Color Cameras covering engine room, decks and underwater; Underwater Lighting; Integrated Alarm Monitoring for vessel systems; 800mhz radios.

Fire Chief William Bryson and the Department are extremely pleased with the new arrival and look forward to providing increased levels of Fire-Rescue emergency services to the community and region.

Five years ago, MetalCraft produced the first FireStorm boat and has not turned back. Each boat having a unique and personalized flavor chosen by our customers. We have been designing and building boats, both power and sail, since 1978 and stand behind our 10-year hull warranty.

Four Escape Miami Luxury Boat Blaze

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:35:20 GMT

And there's compelling video too, from ABC's JustNews.com.

Two MetalCraft Marine fireboats were on the scene (large photo).

The red fireboat on the left is a FireStorm 48 belonging to the City of Miami. The margarita-lime fireboat on its right is a FireStorm 50 from Miami-Dade County.

Also see 4 jump to flee burning yacht in the Miami Sun Sentinal.

MetalCraft Marine vessels featured on CBS Channel-4 in Miami

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:55:02 GMT

Here'a a great video from CBS Channel-4 in Miami about Miami-Dade County's MetalCraft Marine-built high-speed fireboats.

Three new high-speed 30 foot aluminum CBRNE fireboats for Providence, East Providence and Cranston Fire Departments

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:05:47 GMT

Rhode Island welcomes three new high-speed FireStorm 30-foot aluminum CBRNE fireboats for Providence, East Providence and Cranston Fire Departments, with one more on the way for Warwick.

Fire Chief George Farrell, Fire Chief Joseph J. Klucznik, Fire Chief James Gumbley and their teams are excited about the new arrivals. Twin Cummins Merc. 4.2L diesel engines paired with Hamilton 241 jets power the 30-foot vessels which can reach speeds of 40 MPH.

The firefighting capabilities of the CBRNE boat include one roof mounted, remote master stream monitor with foam educting nozzle, a bow mounted remote master stream monitor, a 2�-inch discharges for hand lines, a rear mounted 2-1/2" manual monitor and one 5-inch storz discharge to supply land-based operations.

The Darley 1750 fire pumps are capable of flowing more than 2500 gallons per minute. These CBRNE vessels are equipped with Hazardous gas detection equipment, which can be linked from one boat to the others, and back to headquarters.

The boats can perform in shallow draft conditions and are able to maneuver in tight quarters. They are capable of operating in inclement conditions, including driving rain and dense fog.

Here are more photos of these three vessels.

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:49:51 GMT

Here's a photo of Guntersville Fire Rescue attacking a blaze from the shore.

This could have been devastating but because of their quick action, they managed to save most of the Marina and its boats.

MCM is hoping we have the opportunity to build them a FireBrand 28 in the near future. They definitely could have used it for this fire.

Two Kingston 36 high-speed patrol boats for the Petrotrin Oil Company in Trinidad and Tobago

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:27:34 GMT

Two high-speed Kingston 36 high-speed patrol boats will be stationed in Pointe-A-Pierre , patrolling the Petrotrin Oil viaducts as well as Petrotrin oil platforms offshore in the Soldado Oil fields.

Selwyn Johnetty and his team are excited about the new arrivals.

Twin QSB 5.9L 425hp @ 3000 Cummins diesel engines paired with Hamilton 292 jets power the 36-foot vessel; the boat can reach speeds of 37 MPH.

The boat comes equipped with 1834C Furuno navigation equipment. Twin 16,000 BTU air-conditioners, to combat the intense heat, powered by an ONAN 6.5Kw marine generator.

The boat can perform in shallow draft conditions and is able to maneuver in tight harbors. It is capable of operating in inclement sea conditions, including driving rain and dense fog.

MetalCraft Marine has been designing and building high-speed aluminum Fire/Rescue, Patrol and Workboats since 1987.

FireStorm 69 construction photos posted

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:30:18 GMT

We've just uploaded some recent photos of the FireStorm 69 fireboat that's currently under construction for the City of Tampa. You can view them on our Flickr pages.

Here's what the vessel will look like once it's completed.

1988 to 2008 : Twenty Years of Innovation

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:40:26 GMT

MetalCraft Marine Inc of Kingston Ontario and Clayton New York just rolled out the latest version of their award winning Firestorm line of fireboats.

The new FireStorm 69 will be the fastest fireboat in the world.

It will be able to pump over 10,000 GPM class.

On their way to an emergency call the 100,000 lb hull will top out at 40 Miles per hour. Its super low draft (28") at speed with quad Hamilton jet drives will permit the Tampa Fire Rescue teams to cross shallow areas cutting off miles of travel.

Tampa's new vessel will be delivered by water from Kingston to Florida down the Eastern Seaboard June of 2009. The presence of the craft and its state of the art systems will make the port of Tampa one of the safest in the United States. All thanks to an UASI grant from DHS.

MetalCraft Marine has just been awarded a $5.8 Million contract for the Panama Canal Authority that is based on the same hull platform. There are several other Departments in line waiting to also own a FireStorm 69.

Pictured here is MetalCraft's very first boat (Hull#1) built in 1988 with Tampa Fire Rescue's Firestorm-69 (Hull #503).

Marin County's Firestorm 30 "Liberty" assisting at Angel Island

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:38:21 GMT

Southern Marin County's MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30, named Liberty, is shown in this photo essay assisting in an impressive fire on Angel Island , in San Francisco Bay.

Miami: Crews extinguish cargo ship fire

Thu, 2 Oct 2008 05:16:15 GMT

Here's an interesting on-line article , with a 2:30 minute news video, about Miami-Dade firefighters battling a series of freighter fires over the past few months.

Miami-Dade County has two MetalCraft Marine vessels at its disposal for on-water interventions like this.

Photos of Bridgeport's new FireBrand 28

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 04:08:36 GMT

We've just posted some new photos of Bridgeport, CT's new and recently delivered FireBrand 28 fireboat.

Updated Kingfisher 29 Patrol Boat photos

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:34:35 GMT

We've just updated our online photo library with images of a newly built Kingfisher 29 Patrol Boat

This particular vessel was built in Clayton, NY, at MetalCraft Marine U.S. for the Jefferson County Sheriff.

Boat hits Robert Moses Causeway support

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:41:38 GMT

The East Islip Volunteer Fire Department on Long Island recently used their MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 with Outboards to respond to a boat which hit the Robert Moses Causeway .

After a 30-minute search, the boat was located.

One person was killed and the other was taken aboard the vessel for treatment. The subject was then transferred to another vessel for transport to a local hospital.

More coverage here and here and Channel-12 News video here.

New vessels for Providence, East Providence and Cranston RI

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 16:56:33 GMT

Here's a news story from the Providence Journal about three new FireStorm 30 fireboats in the region that MetalCraft Marine recently delivered. There's video as well.

Here is a related story from WPRI Channel 12 Eyewitness News

Miami River freighter fires

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 20:58:18 GMT

Here are stories and video from Local 10 News and NBC Channel 6 News in Miami about pesky freighter fires in the Miami River last weekend whose response was greatly assisted by MetalCraft Marine vessels.

Two Rescued After Boat Catches Fire

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:52:11 GMT

TMJ Cannel-4 in Milwaukee reports: Two Rescued After Boat Catches Fire near the South Shore Yacht Club.

See also a whole bunch of photos of the fire on Flickr including this one of Milwaukee's MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 36 taking care of business and finally bringing the spectacle to an end.

Fireboats: few & far between

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:27:27 GMT

Here's an article from November 2002, originally published in BOAT/US Magazine, titled Fireboats: few & far between which helps make the case for purchasing a fireboat amid the complicating factors and conflicting priorities all fire departments face.

Miami-Dade's Fireboat 1 helps fight blaze at the old Salty's Restaurant at Haulover Marina

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:12:24 GMT

Here's an interesting story , with a photograph and video , of Miami-Dade's Fireboat 1 assisting over 100 firefighters at Haulover Marina at the site of the old Salty's Restaurant.

A-Channel News on Victoria's new FireStorm 30 Fireboat.

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:49:32 GMT

Interesting coverage from A-Channel News in Victoria, BC, about the city's new MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 high-speed aluminum fireboat.

Related: More details in our item from April 23 2008.

Victoria Fire Department's new High-Speed 30 foot Aluminum Fireboat

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:00:59 GMT

Beautiful Victoria BC has a new addition to their life-saving team. A canary yellow FireStorm 30 stationed near the main Port. Chief Doug Angrove and his team are excited about the new arrival.

Twin Cummins QSB 5.9 L diesel engines paired with Hamilton 274 jets power the 30-foot vessel; the boat can reach speeds of 44 MPH.

The firefighting capabilities of the boat include

one roof mounted, remote master stream monitor,
two 2.5-inch discharges for hand lines, and
one 5-inch storz discharge to supply land-based operations.
The Darley 1750 fire pump is capable of flowing more than 2300 gallons per minute.

The boat can perform in shallow draft conditions and is able to maneuver in tight harbors. It is capable of operating in inclement conditions, including driving rain and dense fog.

We have lots of pictures of Victoria's new FireStorm 30 fire and rescue boat on Flickr.

Incidentally, the fine crew here at MetalCraft Marine is about to start building our 40th Fire/Rescue boat, Hull #503.

Two trapped In boat during fire at a Miami Beach marina

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 04:23:21 GMT

Here's a roundup of some blanket coverage of a recent Miami Beach marina fire that saw two teenagers trapped in a burning hull.

* 2 Trapped In Boat's Hull During Fire, Channel-10 News in Miami .

* Video from CBS News Channel-4 .

* A text account from The Miami Herald .

* Observations from some neighbors with next-morning photos on a www.yachtforums.com

* View three separate short amateur videos that show the raging fire.

Photo: Miami-Dade FireStorm 50

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:09:23 GMT

Check out this amazing photo of Miami-Dade's MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 50 planing and escorted by a friend.

D.C. Firefighters Make Water Rescue

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:27:59 GMT

Two 8-man rowing shells and a coach-boat on the Potomac River on March 1st.

In all 17 people were rescued from the water.

The vessel used here is a MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 powered with a Cummins diesel inboard engine and propelled by Hamilton Jets .

MetalCraft Marine-built search and rescue MLB vessel stars in "The Guard" on Global TV

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:40:27 GMT

A new TV series on Global-TV titled The Guard features a 47-foot MetalCraft Marine search and rescue motor life boat (MLB).

Here's a link to Global-TV's web page about the vessel and here is more information about the 47 foot Aluminum Motor Life Boat Project including a short video of some vessel testing here in Kingston.

Also, don't miss our 47' Search and Rescue MLB photo set hosted on Flickr.com.

Prince George's County, Maryland receives a New High-Speed 36 foot Aluminum Fireboat

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 17:46:51 GMT

The Potomac River welcomes its 4th MetalCraft vessel; National Harbor will be home of the new FireStorm 36 for PG County.

The 36 footer is outfitted with powerful Cummins 490 HP Diesels which can get them anywhere at the high-speed of 43 MPH. Hamilton's 292 Jets make precise, controlled maneuvers such as crabbing the boat along side another vessel or a dock.

The bigger platform proves to be an asset when unloading passengers quickly from a distressed vessel.

With the Darley 1750 GPM pump, PG County pumps close to 2500 GPM. Which is imperative for putting out the most extreme fires on the water or along the shore. The boat also carries medical equipment critical for saving lives.

Major Eaby and his team are excited about the new arrival. From Annapolis to Portsmouth, VA the Chesapeake Bay has six other MetalCraft Marine vessels ready to assist their neighboring counties and the Nation's Capitol in emergency situations.

Six years ago MetalCraft produced the first FireStorm and has not looked back. Each boat is adapted to unique conditions required by our customers. We have been designing and building boats, both power and sail, since 1978 and stand behind our 10-year hull warrenty.

MetalCraft Marine Custom Firestorm 50 on "Go Deep"

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 22:51:06 GMT

Last year a MetalCraft Marine CBRNE FireStorm Custom 50 was featured in an episode of Go Deep, an educational documentary about how the Seattle Fire Department procured two new fireboats for timely tactical response for the large industrial Port of Seattle, Lake Union, Lake Washington, Puget Sound, and beyond.

Here's a 13-minute segment taken from the 48-minute episode. It's all about what it takes to design, build, staff, and operate a distributed fire and disaster response capability over diverse populated and industrial areas.

If you are reading this in a news feed reader, click here to view the video .

2008 Kingston Marina prices are now online

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:59:48 GMT

Our 2008 Kingston Marina prices are now online. Slip fees are up slightly, now $44.00 per foot for the summer season.

All our other marina-related prices are unchanged from last year.

47' motor life boat (MLB) in Morro Bay California

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 06:17:41 GMT

Jack Hochadel, Vice President of Willard Marine in Anaheim, California, just sent us these amazing photographs of a 47' motor life boat, made by Textron Marine & Land Systems , going through a large crashing wave in Morro Bay, California.

Click for larger sizes.

Quoting the photographer:

15-20 foot swells from a large storm reached Morro Bay California on December 4, 2007. A U.S. Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Life Boat was out for practice maneuvers in the large surf, which is not unusual.
However, a large wave hit that was probably more than they bargained for. At least it's the hardest I've ever seen them get hit.
The air was filled with mist, and they were quite distant, so at times were just a shadow in the mist. I've adjusted the photos for better visibility, however the quality of the photos is not the greatest due to the above conditions, and futile attempts to keep the lens dry.

This is the same boat model built by MetalCraft Marine for the Canadian Coast Guard, when we delivered seven of them in 2003. The boat is structurally designed to withstand Sea State 8 and is self-righting.

Here's a link to Textron's 47' MLB Data Sheet (PDF) .

Two new Fireboats for the Dubai Fire Services in the UAE

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:30:52 GMT

Here's a recent photo of two new fireboats soon to be delivered to the Dubai Fire Services in the United Arab Emirates.

On the left is a new FireStorm 48 and, on the right, a new FireStorm 34 fireboat.

The boats and Fire Rescue duties will be handled by the Dubai Civil Defence Force, which operates a marine unit currently. These will be the first purpose built fireboats in their fleet as well as the first jetboats.

The boats are fitted with Hamilton 364 and 241 waterjets and Cummins diesels.

The Dubai Civil Defence staff were here in Kingston at the end of November conducting sea trials. Unfortunately there was no snow for them at that time.

Miami-Herald front page: High-tech fireboats patrol S. Florida

Fri, 7 Dec 2007 21:45:41 GMT

On page 1 of today's Miami-Herald: High-tech fireboats patrol S. Florida , an impressive story about Fireboat 1, a MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 50, with a mention of it's the new FireStorm 36 we just delivered.

Train wreck near RFK Stadium in Washington DC

Mon, 3 Dec 2007 23:03:01 GMT

On November 9th 2007, Part of an 89-car freight train carrying coal left the tracks on a bridge over the Anacostia River near RFK Stadium.

Shown here is the District of Columbia Fire Department's MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 responding to the scene. Full story here