Moose Boats is Keeping Busy

Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, announced two recent vessel deliveries: a M2-35 Catamaran Patrol Boat to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office in Carnelian Bay, Calif., and a M2-38’ 3,000GPM Fire Rescue Catamaran to the Bellingham Fire Department in Bellingham, Wash. The builder has received an additional order to build a M2-38 Catamaran CBRNE Emergency Response and Recovery Vessel for the New Bedford Fire Department in Massachusetts.

The most recent delivery, the Marine 6, is a 35-foot all-aluminum catamaran vessel to replace Placer Sheriff’s former Marine 6, a 28-foot aluminum mono-hull vessel which has been in service since 1988.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office stated, “The M2-35 will be responsible for year-round patrol on Lake Tahoe. The Marine 6 crew’s primary responsibilities include enforcement of State and Federal Maritime law and California Penal and Vehicle codes. Commonly, you will find the crew conducting (BUI) Boating Under the Influence investigations, vessel collision investigations and less often, death investigations. Often, the crew is called to assist with search and rescue operations, locate missing or overdue boaters, provide medical aid and transport, and assist vessels in distress (sinking, mechanical failure, etc.). Marine 6 is also used in the support of law enforcement diving or recovery operations on Lake Tahoe and provides dignitary protection. The crew’s secondary responsibilities include special event supervision such as providing safety and security for water based events, which include paddleboard, kayak and swim race events, and large-scale firework events.”

Propulsion is achieved by twin Yamaha 350hp four stroke outboards with a top speed of 42 knots at 6,200 feet above sea level on Lake Tahoe and 45 knots at sea level; a testament to the efficiency of the catamaran hull. The cabin interior is outfitted to facilitate emergency medical services. It has an enclosed head, a small galley and a work surface for MDC communications. Ample storage is provided both below the patient bench and under the two shock-mitigating seats. A forced air diesel heater provides defrost and interior heat. Deck outfitting includes a custom dive/rescue door, lifting davit, storage for EMS supplies and dive equipment, a rescue basket, towing and anchoring equipment, bow and stern ladders and a gasoline powered dewatering pump.

The Placer County Sheriff utilized California Division of Boating and Waterways funding to assist in the purchase of the vessel from Moose Boats under GSA Contract Number GS-07F-0507M via a Schedule 84 cooperative purchasing clause.

Moose Boats’ other recent delivery, the M2 all-aluminum catamaran fireboat for the Bellingham Fire Department, is powered by twin 425hp Cummins turbo diesel engines with TwinDisc transmissions coupled to Hamilton HJ292 waterjets.

The M2 is named “Salish Star” and it is equipped with dual front end power take off bronze fire pumps and is capable of flowing 3,000GPM while simultaneously maintaining full maneuverability from both propulsion jets. The pressurized CBRN cabin features shock mitigating helm and navigator seats, a patient bench, workstation and a head enclosure with SCBA storage.

The Moose Boats M2-38 was selected by the City of Bellingham for its lateral stability, maneuverability, robust firefighting water flow and high quality finish. Salish Star will be responsible for fire fighting, EMS and emergency response within Squalicum Harbor and on Bellingham Bay.

Bellingham Fire Department utilized a FY2013 FEMA Port Security Grant Program award to purchase the Moose Boats M2-38, with matching funds provided by the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham. The City of Bellingham procured the vessel from Moose Boats under GSA contract via a Schedule 84 cooperative purchasing clause.

Moose Boats has also been awarded a contract from New Bedford Fire Department in Massachusetts for the construction of a new M2-38 Catamaran CBRNE Emergency Response and Recovery Vessel.

Twin Cummins 425hp turbo diesel propulsion engines coupled to Hamilton waterjets will power the M2-38 aluminum catamaran. The M2 will be equipped with a fire pump, dual monitors, discharges fore and aft for hand lines and supply to land-based apparatus, multi-threat detection equipment and SCBA distribution throughout the vessel. The M2-38 will be capable of pumping firefighting water at a flow rate exceeding 1,500 gallons per minute of while maintaining full maneuverability from both propulsion engines and jets.

The navigation and electronics suite is comprised of multifunction navigation screens, radar, side scan sonar, AIS, VHF radios, communications headsets, thermal imaging and radiation detection equipment. A heavy-duty push knee will enable the M2-38 to come in contact with larger vessels and piers while the custom bow ladder will allow for firefighters to disembark in beach landing scenarios.

New Bedford Fire Department Chief, Michael Gomes, stated, “The M2-38 will be used as the primary Firefighting/Search and Rescue platform for the Port of New Bedford; the second busiest commercial port in the State of Massachusetts. Located on Buzzards Bay and the approaches to the Cape Cod Canal, the Port of New Bedford has deep-water access and is protected by a Hurricane Barrier and is considered to be the safest port on the East Coast. It is home to over 400 commercial fishing vessels and has been the Nation’s number one dollar producing fishing port for 11 straight years. This vessel is being funded through the combination of a Port Security Grant and the local matching funds. The CBRNE capable vessel will provide additional capabilities to the Port and the region. In 2010 the Port of New Bedford experienced an actual CBRNE incident when a number of WWI sulfur mustard rounds were dredged up by a fishing vessel and one ruptured. This incident resulted in two casualties and required 15 days and multiple agencies to bring to a successful conclusion.”

The City of New Bedford utilized GSA Schedule 84 clause allowing the vessel to be purchased from Moose Boats’ GSA pricing schedule.