MetalCraft Marine

Interview with Workboat.com about the new Sentry 32.

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:19:07 GMT

Here Bob and Ian explain some of the key features of the new Sentry 32 to WorkBoat.com online editor Sam Pfeifle at the 2011 International Workboat Show.

Three recent new FireStorm fireboat deliveries

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:51:40 GMT

We are pleased to display three recent FireStorm Fireboat deliveres to new customers.

A FireStorm 50 for the Camden NJ Fire Department, delivered in November 2011.
A FireStorm 36 for the Canaveral FL Port Authority, delivered in Summer 2011.
A FireStorm 30 for the City of Delaware DE Fire and Rescue, delivered in Summer 2011.

Camden Fire Department

FireStorm 50 Camden Fire Department
Max speed	44 Knots
L.O.A.	50' 5"
B.O.A.	16' 8"
Weight	52000 lbs
Horsepower	2250 hp.
Pump	3 Hale
Discharges	five monitors; 2 LDH
Flow	11,000 GPM
Engine	3 Iveco
Jets	Triple Hamilton
Other	CBRNE; Ice belt

Canaveral Port Authority, FL

FireStorm 36 Canaveral Port Authority, FL
Max speed	37 Knots
L.O.A.	39' 2"
B.O.A.	13'
Horsepower	900 hp.
Pump	Darley
Discharges	4 monitors; 2 LDH
Flow	2,375 GPM
Engine	2 Iveco
Jets	2 Hamilton
Other	Glass bead finish

City of Delaware, DE

FireStorm 30 City of Delaware, DE
Max speed	40 Knots
L.O.A.	34'
B.O.A.	10' 9"
Weight	16,236 lbs
Horsepower	840 hp.
Pump	Hale
Discharges	3 monitors; 1 LDH
Flow	2,700 GPM
Engine	2 Iveco
Jets	2 Hamilton
Other	CBRNE; Foam; Aft helm.

Huge fire at Fire Island Pines, Long island

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:35:16 GMT

A huge fire at Fire Island Pines, on Long Island NY, last night.

The Fire Island Pines Fire Department was one of 22 area departments responding to a 9:15 p.m. call, according to police.

Sources tell us that East Islip's FireStorm 30 fireboat attended and pumped for hours.

MetalCraft Marine is the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:26:09 GMT

Here's the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce press release from their annual President's Gala, featuring the 2011 Business Achievement Awards .

Large Business of the Year: MetalCraft Marine.

MetalCraft Marine designs and builds high-speed fire/rescue, patrol and workboats. They maintain their dominance and superior quality through a number of factors: constant innovation through R&D; strong relationships with customers — 90% of their business comes from referrals; and their enthusiasm for unique engineering. These factors enabled them to outperform the competition.

MetalCraft has added 22 employees since 2008 and continues to add more employees every day. Since 2008, MetalCraft Marine has increased its sales by sixty-five percent.

Bob Clark accepted the award.

New fire boat used to control flames at Lake Norman home

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 03:01:28 GMT

Interesting story from Cornelius, NC, who have a FireStorm 30 in service at their disposal.

For the first time, Cornelius firefighters used a new fire boat to get the flames under control.

The boat arrived on the scene shortly after the call came in, and firefighters then attached a hose to it and started pumping 2,400 gallons of water per minute onto the flames.

"A fire this big overwhelms the domestic supply from the fire hydrants, so we use this -- a fire hydrant with an endless supply of water", Capt. Greg Shaner said.

Watch the video; there's an excellent point about operating in very shallow water, which Cornelius' Fire Boat 4 is designed to do.

Portland Fireboat Damaged In Mishap. Again.

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:18:51 GMT

This from WMTW in Portland Maine on October 20th 2011.

Too bad it wasn't a jet-powered fireboat.

Portland's 2-year-old fireboat has sustained damage after striking an underwater object.

Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne tells The Portland Press Herald that the accident happened last weekend while The City of Portland IV was on a navigational training run on the far side of Fort Gorges.

It wasn't immediately clear what the vessel struck, but LaMontagne said the impact damaged a propeller and a rudder and sheared off a shaft. No one was hurt.

It was the second time that the $32 million fireboat has been damaged since it was put into service a little more than two years ago.

The vessel sustained $90,000 in damage and was out of commission for about three months after running aground in November 2009 in Whitehead Passage.

Our First Electric Powered Patrol Boat

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:05:24 GMT

Patrol Boat-1 is our first ever electric powered patrol boat. It's designed and built the boat for the City of Annapolis' Harbormaster .

The boat uses a Steyr hybrid diesel/electric engine that permits either electric power or, for higher speeds, diesel power.

The propulsion is a Hamilton 213 waterjet . The jet can propel the boat in electric patrol mode at 4.5 knots, as it approaches and checks boats in the harbor ensuring anchoring permits are valid. To get to other areas of the expansive harbour the diesel propels the boat to 30 knots and recharges the batteries.

The design challenge was how to provide enough battery power to meet the boat?s operational profile in such a small boat (23' X 8'6") and still be able to get on plane.

MetalCraft designed the 48-volt battery pack, with high output solar assist panel array, around commercial off-the-shelf 31 series high amp hour batteries. This allows the Annapolis Harbourmaster to easily replace the batteries when they age.

The batteries have a 4-6 year life expectancy. The total value of the eight batteries is $2,600.00. The estimated fuel savings is $550.00 per month.

The reduction in overall engine maintenance is significant, including a major reduction in oil changes from 24 to 7.2 oil changes per year. This, added to 70% less engine wear, and the savings to operations start to add up.

The speed penalty for the added weight of batteries and electric power system is approximately 4 knots in high speed diesel mode.

MCM will be introducing additional models in the Kingston Electric Series and will introduce electric power systems in the Brunswick Sentry line in the near future.

MetalCraft acknowledges and thanks the National Research Council of Canada and the Mid Atlantic Regional Air Management Association for their important contributions to this ground project.

See also Annapolis harbormaster goes hybrid at hometownAnnapolis.com .

We are moving 15-miles West from Clayton, NY to Cape Vincent, NY

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:51:17 GMT

We are pleased to announce that we are moving from our current location in Clayton, NY to a larger facility 15-miles West in Cape Vincent, NY.

The new location is at the Anchor Marina on Route 12.

We have been in Clayton, NY since 2007. We recently spent considerable time looking for larger facilities in Clayton area and we received great support from local officials.

In the end we were unable to find suitable space on-water for launching our larger boats such as the FireStorm 70 and our new Sentry line of stealth patrol craft.

We have been working with the State of New York to help with site upgrades and training for new staff. We expect to increase our upstate New York staff from the current 11 people to 15 to 18 people within a year. We will be hiring aluminum welders, metal fitters, mechanics, electricians and interior finishers.

We currently have 87 employees in Kingston, Ontario.

View Larger Map

Interesting Funding Battle in Miami-Dade County

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:51:10 GMT

There is an interesting battle currently happening in Miami-Dade County.

On one side, City officials who want to cut fireboat service to balance budgets.

On the other, first-responders and citizens that maintain that Fireboats are great investments, and beware of false economies.

Some good video on the subject.

Disclosure: Miami-Dade County has two MetalCraft Marine fireboats.

Video: Newport News' FireStrom 30 rescue during hurricane Irene

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:59:47 GMT

Virginia's Newport News Fire Department Marine Incident Response Team and their MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 is featured in this CBC News video about a couple (and their pet cat) aboard a small live-aboard sailboat who apparently tried to out-run hurricane Irene off the coast of Virginia.

This incident, and its safe outcome for all, was widely reported by news networks and media across North America.

Kingston builds 'biggest and baddest' fireboat

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:44:21 GMT

Here's a nice article in Kingston This Week about the John S. Damrell, the FireStorm 70 soon to be delivered to the City of Boston Fire Department.

Special thanks to Rob Mooy, Photo Editor at Kingston This Week, for the photos.

Kingston builds 'biggest and baddest' fireboat

"A monster," "far superior," "the biggest and the baddest."

Meet MetalCraft Marine's latest fireboat, the FireStorm 70.

The company based in the Kingston Marina, completed work on the FireStorm 70 three weeks ago, and will be sailing the 70-footer down to its purchasers in Boston later this month.

On August 11, the Kingston crew took guests out for a test run near Kingston Marina, and the boat did not disappoint.

"Boston has a number of fireboats but nothing with this capability. This can pump about 12,000 gallons per minute," says Jay Milner, account manager for MetalCraft Marine. "The other fireboats Boston has are a lot slower. And the faster ones they have are very tiny, in comparison to this monster. It was a quick sell."

The City of Boston is purchasing the fireboat, equipped with chemical, biological and radiological emergency response capability, for the Boston Fire Department.

It replaces their current fireboat "Firefighter," which has been in service since 1972 and does not have the capabilities needed for a modern emergency response fireboat.

In a recent press release, Commissioner Roderick Fraser of the City of Boston said the FireStorm 70 will also have state of the art navigation systems as well as water jet propulsion, and is designed to operate in a chemical or biological contaminated environment.

"This boat is light years ahead of the current fireboat and will greatly enhance our response capability anywhere in Boston Harbor," he said.

"It's far superior to a fire truck because it's got a water supply that will never end, and manoeuverability," says Tom Wroe, President of MetalCraft Marine.

The boat will be named John S. Damrell after the former Chief Engineer of the Boston Fire Department who battled Boston's Great Fire of 1872.

It is the third 70-footer made by MetalCraft Marine. The first was sold to Tampa, FL, and the second to Jacksonville, FL.

According to Milner, Kingston has been looking at buying a fireboat from MetalCraft Marine, but it is unlikely to be anything near of the size of the FireStorm 70, most likely it will in the 40-46 ft. range.

"Kingston needs one of these," says Milner. "This boat can do 37 knots full tilt, it's just amazing."

MetalCraft Marine has already begun work on their next project, a fireboat for Wilmington, Delaware.

Photos of the US Navy's MetalCraft Marine Kingston 30 Tow Boats

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:33:49 GMT

We have some good photos of some of the Kingston 30 Tow Boats commissioned by US Navy.

These great boats were built by MetalCraft Marine US Inc. in Clayton, NY. The last boat in the contract just departed for for Virginia.

More information in this April 2011 press release

Metalcraft Marine was recently awarded a contract by the United States Navy for the construction of eight of their tow boats. The tow boats will support the US Navy's spill recovery, support and salvage operations worldwide.

Fully loaded the aluminium tow boat can reach speeds of 34 knots with its Single Iveco NEF 450 hp engine rated at 420 hp (309 kW) driving a single UltraJet 305HT High Thrust Waterjet viz a ZF 280 gearbox. UltraJet waterjets were chosen for their high bollard pull for vessel recovery. During sea trials bollard pull tests achieved 3800 lb. Thrust vectoring is with Ultra's Hydromechanical control system with a single helm lever and the hydraulic power-assist steering provides light and responsive directional control.

Quinte's new rescue boat

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:28:31 GMT

Quinte Search And Rescue, a volunteer organization, celebrates it's gleaming new MetalCraft Marine Kingfisher 28 rescue boat.

A gleaming new search and rescue vessel dedicated to improving the safety of boaters on the waters of the Bay of Quinte was unveiled by the volunteer members of Quinte Search And Rescue (QSAR).

The vessel, an all-aluminum Kingfisher 29-foot (8.8-metre) craft built by MetalCraft Marine Incorporated, of Kingston, Ontario, and purchased with the help of a generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is QSAR's first purpose-built rescue vessel.

"This new vessel will assist members of QSAR in their response to emergencies and requests for assistance on the Bay of Quinte. The practice of safety on the water is paramount to enjoying recreational activities," Leona Dombrowsky, MPP, Prince Edward-Hastings, told community leaders gathered at a special ceremony August 12, 2011.

"This new rescue vessel will provide for a safer environment when we enjoy the waters of the beautiful Bay of Quinte. This new vessel will also be far more technologically advanced, which only helps the dedicated volunteers who do so much to help those enjoy the Bay Of Quinte safely," said MPP Lou Rinaldi of Northumberland-Quinte West.

"With its all-weather capability and unique design, this new vessel not only improves our effectiveness as a rescue team but enhances the safety of the volunteers who put themselves at risk on the water," explained Howard Garrod, QSAR unit chairperson.

"Making this boat a reality has been a true community effort," Garrod added. "We are very grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a capital grant, and to the individual and corporate donors who have helped us toward our goal."

The new vessel was commemorated in the name of Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Albert Sutcliffe, DSO, a soldier from the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment who died on the battlefield in World War II. Members of the regiment and two of Sutcliffe's surviving children took part in the commemoration ceremony.

Established in 2005 and incorporated in 2008, QSAR is a community-based volunteer organization committed to providing timely marine search and rescue services in the region, and to promoting boating safety and accident prevention on the water. QSAR serves the communities along the Bay of Quinte -- Belleville, Quinte West, Napanee, the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Deseronto, Prince Edward County and adjacent areas and waters.

Check us out on Facebook (sign-in required).

International Exposure for Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Marine Unit

Wed, 18 May 2011 17:51:40 GMT

CBS UK has picked up the rights to Danger Coast .

The reality show features the daily exploits and real life drama of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Marine Unit.

The show airs in the 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM time slot on several UK channels and reportedly has 6 million viewers shortly after it commenced airing.

Fresh photos from Miami Dade County

Wed, 18 May 2011 02:30:05 GMT

We've just received these sweet photos of Miami-Dade County's FireStorm 50 making a spectacle of herself.

Covington, KY Fire Department's new Firestorm 30 /w Outboards

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:34:33 GMT

Chief Chuck Norris and team from Covington, KY Fire Department took delivery of their new FireStorm 30 Sunday March 27th which will be stationed on the Ohio River across from Cincianti.

Covington, KY Fire Department Firestorm 30 /w Outboards
LOA	34'
Beam	10'6"
Air Draft	12'9" Mast down
Engines	Twin Evinrude E-Tech 300HP Outboards
Speed	34 knots
Fire System	Elkhart wireless monitors
Electronics	Furuno Navnet 3D

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:48:27 GMT

MetalCraft Marine would like to welcome the newest addition to the Brunswick Commercial and Government Products (BCGP) and MetalCraft Marine (MCM) partnership, Kelly W. Webb .

In addition to his experience with Aluminum Chambered Boats Inc. (ACB), Kelly brings his worldly background with the U.S Navy and the U.S Coast Guard, working for and with these organizations.

Kelly's expertise is vast and he is a specialist in redefining how ergonomics improve the day-to-day effectiveness of marine operators.

We are proud to have Kelly join the BGCP and MCM partnership.

Jacksonville's FireStorm 70: Boat of the Year

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:56:00 GMT

MetalCraft Marine was awarded the prestigious "Boat of the Year" from WorkBoat Magazine at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, LA December 1, 2010 for the design and craftsmanship of our FireStorm 70 fire boat built for Jacksonville Fire/Rescue.

Brunswick Commercial and Government Products Joins Forces with MetalCraft Marine

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 19:19:45 GMT

December 2, 2010 Edgewater, Fla. — Brunswick Commercial and Government Products (BCGP), a leading manufacturer of watercraft for commercial, governmental and military use, has entered into a supply agreement with MetalCraft Marine, Inc (MCM) to promote a series of high-performance aluminum boats. BCGP currently offers 16 models of commercialized Boston Whaler fiberglass boats, and eight Impact rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). Under the agreement with MCM, BCGP's product offering will be expanded to include five aluminum models ranging from 28 – 45 feet.

“MetalCraft has a solid history of building superior quality aluminum boats for commercial and government applications,” said Jeremy Davis, BCGP's sales manager. “They are particularly adept at producing high-performance boats, which is critical in this arena. By joining forces with an established aluminum producer with a solid reputation, BCGP immediately gains access to proven product that complements our existing offering.”

MCM is a fully integrated designer and builder of high-speed aluminum patrol boats, fire/rescue craft, and specialty vessels ranging from 22 – 70 feet. An industry leader in jet propulsion, MetalCraft has been designing and building high-quality commercial and government boats since 1987.

“MetalCraft and Brunswick Commercial and Government Products both are recognized for providing superior quality boats and solid service and support,” said Bob Clark, MetalCraft Marine's contract manager. “This arrangement will give MetalCraft access to Brunswick's expanded sales and service support infrastructure, while giving BCGP access to MetalCraft's expertise in aluminum craft design and manufacturing.”

According to the terms of the agreement, BCGP and MCM will offer five new aluminum models called the “Sentry” series. Each model can be configured for a specific mission, including patrol, special operations, or workboat applications, based on the needs of the purchasing agency. Power options will include inboard diesels, jet drives, sterndrives and outboard engines.

“Now agencies can purchase Boston Whaler fiberglass hulls, Impact RHIBs and aluminum platforms from BCGP with one phone call,” said Davis. “We are excited about this opportunity to expand our offering to address the needs of our customers with a superior caliber product. Naturally, loyal MetalCraft customers can continue to work directly with MetalCraft Marine as they always have,” said Davis.

For more information about the new Sentry series, call Brunswick Commercial and Government Products at 386-423-2900.

About MetalCraft Marine Incorporated
MetalCraft Marine Inc designs and builds custom aluminum patrol boats, fire/rescue boats, and a vast array of other aluminum vessels tailored to meet a variety of unique mission requirements. These vessels typically range from 22 to 70'. Twice winning Great Boat of the Year Honors at the prestigious New Orleans Workboat Show, MetalCraft is a proven leader in innovative design and construction techniques.

About BCGP
Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) has been providing superior quality, customizable crafts to commercial and government agencies for more than 50 years. BCGP is a pre-eminent supplier of boats to homeland security, law enforcement, special operations and combat, and fire and rescue agencies. BCGP specializes in providing unsurpassed customer service and support. BCGP is owned by Brunswick Corporation, the largest marine manufacturer in the world.

About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill "Genuine Ingenuity"(TM) in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, and Diversified Marine parts and accessories distributors; Arvor, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris FloteBote, Hatteras, Lowe, Lund, Meridian, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Sealine, Suncruiser, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Life Fitness and Hammer Strength fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables and foosball tables. For more information, visit http://www.brunswick.com .

BCGP Contact: Catherine Morgan
386-423-2934
catherine.morgan@whaler.com

MetalCraft Marine Contact: Emily Roantree
800-410-8464
Emily.R@metalcraftmarine.com

In The News: San Diego's new fireboats

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:34:43 GMT

Last week was a busy one in local media as San Diego Harbour Police showed-off two of their expected five FireStorm Fireboats.

Here's a Fox News 5 newscast about the new vessels, including answers to some direct questions about investing in harbour fire apparaus in hard economic times.

Also see this Ports San Diego Youtube video that highlights many of the benefits of the new vessels.

Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue's first on-water rescue in their new FireStorm 30

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:27:45 GMT

Captain Greg Shaner, of Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue in North Carolina just put in service a MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 powered with twin Cummins 4.2L diesel engines and twin 241 Hamilton Jets. They will operate on Lake Norman covering 520 miles of shoreline.

The boat was in service less than a week when we were alerted for an overturned sailboat with 2 persons in distress.

Fireboat 4 was first to arrive and rescued both patients from the water. Both patients were treated for hypothermia and exhaustion. Fireboat 4's rear drive station made operating in 30 mph winds and removing the patients from the water safe and effective. Fireboat 4's crew assisted in righting the vessel, and transporting the patients to shore.

This was our first response in our new Firestorm 30 and everything worked perfectly.

--Captain Shaner.

We've also just received a very nice testamonial letter from Captain Shaner.

Miami City and Miami-Dade County Fire Departments team up to raise funds for Breast Cancer

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 17:15:31 GMT

The 'Pink Heals Tour' Honors Women.

Pictured here: some of the apparatus and personnel from the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County, including two of the MetalCraft Marine fireboats that serve this region.

"We're at war against this terrorist attack called cancer."

Press Release: Jacksonville FL Fire/Rescue receives their 2nd High-Speed Aluminum Fire boat

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:40:55 GMT

Joining their first vessel (FireStorm 50) "Jake Godbold" from MCM, Jacksonville welcomed their 2nd, a FireStorm 70. The bright red vessel matches its predecessor and will be stationed near the main port in Jacksonville, Florida.

The new vessel can hit whopping speeds of 41 knots with its 4 x CAT C-18's @1015 HP per engine & Hamilton 403 water jets. Gearing for pumps and propulsion was from ZF gear of Germany.

Also impressive are the pump numbers��.it produces over 14,092 GPM at 150 PSI & 17,892 GPM @ 120 PSI with Hale quad 8 FKF pumps. The main electronic monitors is a roof mounted Stang 5500 GPM w/450 foot reach and 4 x Elkhart 2000 GPM deck monitors. The foam system can feed all discharges and has a quick change system for 55 gallon drums.

Detection equipment has been installed to detect interior and exterior CBRNE agents; the bridge is an air tight compartment which provides front line defense for the Port and City of Jacksonville.

The camera/Flir system is by Ocean View and can be interfaced with any of the 4 x 19" screens. The system has a split screen camera option which can uplink and be viewed from fire head quarters or aircraft to aid in SAR missions. The datalink system accepts aircraft cameras as well as full radio frequencies.

Ships electronics are Furuno 3-D system, communications by Motorola ICOM & Piratecom. The wireless Piratecom can interface with up to 6 radios and cell phones. For perfect audio ability the system has wind and engine filters, so that in noisy environments the operators can communicate clearly.

The $4.7 Million dollar vessel took 12 months to construct and was funded through a 2008 Port Security Grant. Hull structure is built to ABS & IACS standards.

Chief Larry Peterson and his team are excited about the new arrival, which was delivered from MCM Kingston, Ontario Canada September 2010 via Lake Ontario to the Erie barge Canal, down the Hudson and out at NYC and followed along the Eastern Seaboard. Trip took 12 days with many stops along the way. Tampa Fire/Rescue had a similar boat take the same trip a year ago.

Nine years ago, MetalCraft produced the first FireStorm and has not turned back. Each boat having a unique and personalized flavor chosen by our customers. MetalCraft has been designing and building boats since 1987.

Firestorm 69 Crash-Stop Photos

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:58:12 GMT

Check out this great Flickr slideshow from Jacksonville's FireStorm 69 sea trials, showing a high-speed crash-stop.

Pay particular attention to the water tower and the sailboat in the background. This fireboat stops-on-a-dime.

Here's a link to the whole Crash-Stop photo set, featuring other boats built in the past.

City of Boston orders a MetalCraft Marine Firestorm 69 fireboat

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:58:27 GMT

Here's the announcement by the City of Boston about their order for a MetalCraft Marine Firestorm 69 fireboat.

The City of Boston is purchasing a new state of the art fireboat with Chemical, Biological and Radiological emergency response capability for the Boston Fire Department. This new vessel will replace the current fireboat "FIREFIGHTER" which has been in service since 1972 and does not have the capabilities needed for a modern emergency response fireboat.

CKWS-TV News feature on MetalCraft Marine

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:23:52 GMT

Here's a link to Kingston's CKWS-TV News feature on MetalCraft Marine.

IT MAY BE KINGSTON'S BEST KEPT SECRET.

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:45:18 GMT

MetalCraft Marine just delivered two Crash Rescue Kingston 32 RIBs to the Beirut International Airport in Lebanon, which is directly adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea.

Here are some of the vessel details:

9.75M Molded length
LOA: 11.045M
Beam: 2.67M
Max height from waterline: 3.32m with the mast up
Highest point with Arch folded down: 2.64m
Vessel freeboard at the bow: 1.06m
Vessel freeboard at stern: 48 cm
Displacement: 7290Kg
Draft: 60 cm (Dry)
Iveco N67 Engine: 420hp at 3000 rpm
ZF 280-1 Gearbox
Twin 274 Hamilton Jet Drive units
Four Zodiac 75 Person Reversible Life rafts
Elkhart Brass Electronic Monitor
Fire Pump: HALE Bronze 5677 LPM
Pump Boss Pressure Governor
1800 BTU roof mount Air Conditioning unit
3Kw Mobile Electric Power systems Inc.
AC Power Generator
Wing inflatables 10M RIB Positive flotation collar

It's a sweet package.

CMT's Danger Coast episodes now viewable from Canada

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:40:39 GMT

Danger Coast Episodes from the CMT Network featuring MetalCraft Marine FireStorm vessels are now visible in Canada.

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:09:35 GMT

At MetalCraft Marine we are sea-trialing our newest vessel, a FireStorm 70 for Jacksonville Fire/Rescue.

This fireboat will pump close to 13,000 GPM, and has hit speeds of 42 knots.

This magnificent and speedy firefighting machine is due for delivery via water sometime in early September 2010. You can view it at our Open House Event on August 20th.

Rampaging fire wounds Menemsha badly

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:44:40 GMT

The Martha's Vineyard Times has an excellent article about an epic boathouse fire at Coast Guard Station Menemsha.

The pictures are and video are just spectacular.

Oak Bluffs Fire/Rescue was called to the scene. Their fire-equipped MetalCraft Marine Kingston 36 (details here) was instrumental in taming the blaze.

Some quotes from The Martha's Vineyard Times:

Oak Bluffs provided a firefighting boat that raced up Vineyard Sound and arrived to play a crucial role in the battle.

And this:

Mr. Olsen praised the Island community response and said he was thankful for the Oak Bluffs fireboat which, he said, helped push the fire back down the dock.

Kingston MCM fireboat called into action for her first fire

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:30:13 GMT

The Kingston Ontario Fire Department responded to an impressive fire at Rideau Marina on July 17 2010 with their MetalCraft Marine re-fitted fireboat

The maintenance shop was completely destroyed.

Here are more photos of the vessel responding as well as some impressive land-side photos of the blaze in the Kingston Whig Standard and a video segment of the vessel from CKWS-TV news.

KINGSTON FIRE RESCUE ALSO BROUGHT IN THEIR NEWLY COMMISSIONED FIREBOAT - THE H.T. PATTERSON.

BULLOCK:

"THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO BRINGING FINAL EXTINGUISHMENT TO THIS FIRE AND SAVING THE BOAT STORAGE BUILDING. IT PROVED ITS WORTH".

Hazmat crews from Providence Fire Departments secure fishing boat after mustard gas leak injures one fisherman and contaminates the dragger

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:55:23 GMT

Hazmat crews from East Providence and Providence Fire Departments, using MetalCraft Marine FireStorm CBRN-equipped fireboats, work to secure fishing boat after mustard gas leak injures one fisherman and contaminates the dragger.

The military used the ocean as a dumping ground for munitions from after World War II through 1970. While the tons of old chemical weapons in offshore waters present a danger to fishermen, experts don't believe they are a possible source of weapons for terrorists.

The Atlantic City, N.J.-based vessel was fishing Sunday in a charted munitions dumping zone, but the designation is just a warning and carries no fishing restrictions, Rhodes said.

The two shells � about a foot long and three inches in diameter � came aboard in a haul of clams. The Coast Guard believes one of the shells cracked or otherwise leaked its contents.

New boat helped stop flames at Port of Tampa

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:03:13 GMT

Here's a great news story about how Tampa Fire & Rescue's FireStorm 69, The Patriot, was pivotal in extinguishing a raging fire in a conveyor system at the Port of Tampa.

Quoting Fox-News Channel 13:

The firefighters on the dock were having a difficult time getting the blaze under control, Captain Bill Wade told FOX 13, and using the vessel on the water side made it possible to attack the flames from two different angles.

"With this vessel, the way that it's built, it's set up not only as a fire fighting vessel but also as a command and control vessel," Wade said. "The firefighters on this vessel had the ability to see what's going on with this ship that is burning, they can control the situation from their side and make sure that fire crews are acting safely, because fighting a ship is much different than fighting a fire in a building."

There is one hose on the top of the Patriot, along with two in front and two at the back of the vessel. They can pump a total of 13,500 gallons of water per minute. Captain Wade says that is about the equivalent of nine fire trucks.

Two videos of the incident. The first from Fox News , the second from Tampa Fire Rescue .

It's clear from these videos that water-side access can be much more flexible and effective in fighting fires in-port. Note how constrained the land-side firetrucks appear to be in this instance.

Shipboard fire at Daytona's Sunset Harbor Yacht Club -- no fireboat

Tue, 25 May 2010 17:41:51 GMT

A 71-foot yacht burned for nearly eight hours at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club in Daytona, Florida.

"Without a fireboat, we were pretty limited in what we could do," Daytona Beach fire Battalion Chief Dru Driscoll said, explaining that his department hasn't had such a boat for the past eight years. "The Coast Guard came in around noon, but they have policies that restrict them from getting next to the boat, so that added to the delay."

Port of Providence RI Marine Strike Force responds to tragic accident on Narragansett Bay early Sunday

Tue, 18 May 2010 03:46:58 GMT

Warwick, Rhode Island-based Marine 4, a MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 30 figures prominently in this WCVB-TV 5 News Report about the response and rescue effort following a tragic accident that killed two young Massachusetts women Sunday night on Narragansett Bay.

News from the flooding in Tennessee

Mon, 10 May 2010 16:33:52 GMT

Al Thomas reports from the flooding in Nashville, about their high-speed FireStorm 40 aluminum fireboat:

The boat is in great shape. We have had it busy constantly for six days, and it is performing flawlessly. Two marinas were flooded and several docks had broken loose, and we were able to reposition those and secure them. We also had a barge on the river in downtown Nashville that is used for public events that had broken loose from it's mooring, and we used cables to re-secure it. The Cumberland river crested over 14 feet above flood stage, and we had to move the boat to a marina downstream which is several miles from the riverfront area.