Vigor shipyard to build fireboat for San Francisco

JULY 3, 2014—Vigor Fab, Seattle, WA, has signed a contract to build a 88 ft x 25 ft x 14 ft fireboat for the San Francisco Fire Department.

“We’ve been aggressively ramping up our ability to fabricate complex vessels. This project is an excellent opportunity to put that preparation into action for our customer,” said Bryan Nichols, Director of Sales at Vigor Fab, a subsidiary of Vigor Industrial. Nichols added that Vigor’s experienced shipbuilding team and facilities in Seattle make the shipyard an excellent choice for the fireboat project.

Scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2015 and designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants, Seattle, WA, the fireboat will have a top speed of 11.5 knots in full load condition and accommodate up to three crew members and four firefighters.

The fireboat engines are EPA Tier III-certified Cummins QSK19-M, which have a maximum engine horsepower of 750 bhp at 1,800 rev/min.  Its firefighting system consists of six Stang fire monitors, which will be supplied with water and foam from three 6,000 gal/min fire pumps.

“We look forward to working with Vigor on this project and also to the day the new boat will be on the water protecting the people of San Francisco,” says Assistant Deputy Chief Kyle Merkins of the San Francisco Fire Department’s Division of Homeland Security.