Fireboat Design Contract To Nickum & Spaulding

Design work is beginning at Nickum & Spaulding Associates, Inc., the Seattle-based naval architecture /marine engineering firm, on the Seattle Fire Department's two new 1.6-million-dollar multipurpose harbor service crafts. The recent award culminated a five-month design competition and evaluation by Fire Department personnel.

The 93-foot aluminum-hull vessels were described by Seattle Fire Chief Bob Swartout in the d e p a r t m e n t ' s award announcement as " . . . a model for the entire industry. Their (N&SA's) progressive and innovative design will provide the city with years of dependable, up-to-date service." Each vessel will feature three diesel engines, a maximum speed of 28 knots, and a 7,500 gpm (at 150 psi) pumping capacity. The wheelhouses will be fully automated and each vessel will have an emergency medical treatment room.

In addition to three manually operated deck monitors (one forward and two aft), the vessels will have a remote operated telescoping monitor with a maximum elevation of about 40 feet, and under-dock monitors located in the bow at the waterline, port and starboard.

"The under-dock monitors are remote controlled both for water flow, from a mist to a powerful stream, and for direction. This will allow them to double as bow thrusters for station keeping," said Paul A. Gow, N&SA naval architect heading the design team.

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.