Portland commissions fireboat

The Portland, Maine, Fire Department will today commission its new Robert Allan designed RAnger 2000 Class fireboat, the MV City of Portland IV.

Built by A.F. Theriault & Sons, Meteghan River, Nova Scotia. Canada, the MV City of Portland IV has been engaged in sea trails in Casco Bay for the two months. The aluminum hulled fireboat was built to provide rapid fire suppression and emergency services to the community. It can reach seventeen knots in open water and includes a number of new features to enhance delivery of emergency medical services to Portland islands. The boat will better disperse fire fighting foam, improving the cityÕs ability to put a waterfront or sea-based fire out quickly. The MV City of Portland IV is equipped with modern design components that make it more maneuverable and able to direct water at a fire while staying in place alongside a pier or sea faring vessel.

The $3.2 million boat was funded in part by a $1 million federal allocation from the US Department of Homeland Security and $450,000 US Port and Homeland Security grant with the remaining $1.75 million allocated by the city from fiscal budgets 2002 to 2005.