Builders of a specialized fireboat for Port Canaveral have released details about the high-tech vessel, which will provide marine firefighting and rescue capabilities in the area, according to a press release.

Metal Shark was awarded a contract by the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners to custom build 70 Defiant fireboat, also known as the Marine Firefighting Rescue Vessel (MFRV).

The vessel will offer enhanced fire protection and response time capabilities to serve expanding maritime and commercial space industry operations at the Port.

“With Port Canaveral’s significant growth in the past few years and next year’s arrival of the first LNG-powered cruise ship to homeport in North America, we made the proactive move to upgrade our firefighting and emergency response resources,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port CEO. “This fireboat will greatly enhance the core capabilities of our first responders to ensure the safety and security of our Port. “

With an estimated cost of $4.6 million, the 70-by-22-foot welded aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel was designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team utilizing a military-proven hull form. The MFRV will have a total expected flow rate in excess of 8,500 gallons per minute and will be equipped with conventional and dry-chemical firefighting apparatus, along with a 500-gallon foam tank with gravity fast feed capability and a Purple-K dry-chemical firefighting system. The vessel also will have an emergency medical treatment area onboard and a communications system to function as an on-scene command vessel for maritime rescue operations.

“The enhanced capability of this fireboat will serve the Port for many years, helping to keep our community safe well into the future,” said Barry Compagnoni, Senior Director, Public Safety and Security with the Port.

Port Canaveral’s fireboat will be powered by quad 800-horsepower MAN diesel engines mated to quad Hamilton waterjets, delivering a cruise speed in the 30-knot range and a top speed of 35 knots. The fireboat will be fitted with twin Darley fire pumps rated at 3,000 GPM each feeding two 2,000 GPM remote operated bow monitors, a 5,000 GPM remote operated rooftop monitor, two 1,250 GPM manually operated aft deck monitors, two aft deck risers with dual 2.5” hand line connections, and dual 5” Storz hydrant outlets.

The vessel will be delivered in October 2020.