Page 34: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2021)

PATROL BOATS DESIGNS & TECHNOLOGIES

Metal Shark 38’ f reboat for

Orange Beach, Alabama.

On Patrol:

Metal Shark

Patrol,

Fire Boat

Technology

Takes Of

By Barry Parker hroughout the pandemic of 2020 into 2021, activ- The traditional “? reboat” has evolved, as marine ? re de- ity has remained strong at shipyards, declared early partments take on security-related roles, especially in ports in on to be “essential businesses”; and builders in the populated areas with extensive trade ? ows. The Miami boats

T maritime patrol boat sector are no exception. The include kit from Raymarine with multiple 12” and 16” AX- builders produce a spectrum of vessels, ranging from boats IOM multifunction displays, with units installed at multiple with top speeds of 50 knots and above, typically used in operator stations providing radar, GPS, engine and systems military or drug interdiction settings, to patrol and ? re/rescue data, and displaying video feeds from onboard cameras. These boats that can proceed at a very respectable 25 knots. screens also pull the feed from the gyro-stabilized Forward

In early 2021, a leading builder of metal boats, Metal Shark, Looking InfraRed (FLIR) M400 XR multi-sensor thermal delivered two welded aluminum ? reboats, dubbed FB-21 and night vision cameras. This specialized ? re? ghting package de-

FB-73, to Miami Dade Fire Rescue in Florida. These 50 De? - ? nes target temperatures and provides heat maps (isotherms) ant boats, with 55-ft length and 17.5-ft. beam, are powered by to aid ? re? ghters by locating the focal point of the ? re. twin, 16-liter, 1,200-horsepower MAN D2862 LE456 inboard A display from Humminbird Helix displays depth, sonar

V8 diesel engines coupled via ZF500 transmissions to Ma- and 3-D side scan imaging. Highlighting their multi-mission rine Jet Power (MJP) 350X waterjets, enabling a top speed in capabilities, Metal Shark says: “The new vessels will aid the excess of 44 knots. Features include Marine JetPower’s Com- crews in detecting and identifying any Chemical, Biological, binator digital controls and joystick Vector Control System, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) threat as the which enable pinpoint maneuvering in close quarters situa- vessels are equipped with the latest in detection meters and tions, and a Zipwake dynamic trim and ride control system. equipment necessary to prevent such an event.” 34 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • June 2021

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