Pittsburgh Selects Lake Assault Boats
The City of Pittsburgh River Rescue Unit selected Lake Assault Boats to build a 30-ft.EMS river rescue vessel, for delivery later this year.
The boat’s catamaran style hull is engineered for enhanced stability and maneuverability, and it is powered by two Yamaha 425 hp outboard engines . Slow speed maneuvering is controlled by Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick steering and digital anchoring system.
The vessel also will feature a 74-in. hydraulically operated bow door, a heated front deck, dive step cutouts; and it can deploy a SWAT team and its equipment, including an ATV vehicle.
“This new rescue vessel will respond to just about any emergency – from a medical situation on a river cruise ship, to a SWAT team’s mission or a fire on a fishing boat,“ said Division Chief Raymond S. Everitt, a 35-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire. “In addition, our Unit participates in several mutual aid agreements and there are times we’ll need to travel long distances. The craft’s 45 mph estimated top speed will greatly improve our response time.”
The boat carries an ALS squad on board and is equipped with the same medical gear found on a traditional ambulance. Its 10-foot long, fully enclosed pilothouse has an 80-inch interior clearance height, with ample room to treat patients in space protected from the elements. There is an operator’s captain seat with storage below, additional bench seating, and numerous storage compartments. The helm station features integrated fire pump controls and an overhead radio rack. The craft will carry a full spectrum of electronics, including chart plotter, HD radar, sonar, and a forward looking infrared (FLIR) system, all controlled through two Garmin touchscreens.
For firefighting operations, the boat is outfitted with a Darley 750 gpm fire pump (stored in a recessed deck compartment) with through-hull suction into a sea chest, and an Elkhart deck monitor and nozzle. Other notable features include a full complement of LED floodlights, warning lights, and spotlights; a hinged radar arch; and an SCBA dive bottle rack.