Tough Twins: New Fireboats for Port of Long Beach
Canada based naval architect and marine engineering firm Robert Allan Ltd. is a leading designer of high-performance response vessels of many types and in particular, large fireboats for major ports worldwide. In addition to the vessels’ outwardly obvious role of fighting fires, these vessels also serve as incident command centers or as primary response vessels for any local emergency actions requiring water-based control.
Robert Allan Ltd. was awarded a contract in the summer of 2011 to prepare plans and specifications for a pair of fireboats for the Port of Long Beach, Calif. Due to operational proximity, the Los Angeles fireboat Warner L. Lawrence (a 2001 Robert Allan Ltd. design) heavily influenced the owner’s requirements. The first RAnger V-3300 fireboat Protector went into service in June of 2016 with the second vessel Vigilance expected in mid-2017.
These new fireboats feature Voith cycloidal drives in a tractor configuration, giving the vessels exceptional maneuverability and the ability to fight fires in any orientation. High speed was not a priority for this project; low wake and good seakeeping were deemed to be of greater importance. During the design phase, Robert Allan Ltd.’s in-house CFD capabilities optimized the hull form, ensuring the vessel meet two important criteria: minimum wake when traveling both ahead and astern at 8 knots and good heavy weather seakeeping ability.
The total aggregate pumping capacity of each vessel is 41,000 gpm, with the single largest monitor capable of delivering 12,000 gpm a distance of almost 600 feet. The vessels are also capable of providing over 30,000 gpm of water shore-side through 4” hoses to support land-based firefighting operations.
The new fireboats are equipped with CBRN capacities, comprised of a citadel enclosure, specialized HVAC filters, a decontamination shower, and chemical detectors. The vessels also include a Command Information Center that enables them to perform on-scene command duties and communicate with other agencies.