Robert Allan Ltd. was selected to be the Owner’s Naval Architect for the design and construction of two new fireboats for the Port of Long Beach. Custom designed for service in this critical and vital US port, these next-generation, high-performance fireboats will be operated by the Long Beach Fire Department and will be amongst the largest and most capable fireboats in North America, the naval engineering firm said in its news release.
Robert Allan Ltd.’s design work began in 2011, based on the specifications worked out with the Long Beach customer in the Statement of Requirements for the new vessels. The fireboat design features the following capabilities: Firefighting of ships, boats and near shore structures; On-shore support, including shore-side supply of water; Water Rescue including vessel dewatering, towing and dive support; Medivac services and EMS / paramedic support; Harbor security patrol, including detection of hazardous agents; Disaster response, including a Command Information Center; Operation in contaminated (CBRN) areas, including vessel self-protection and decontamination facilities for personnel
General characteristics:
Length overall - 108'
Molded Breadth - 35'
Navigational draft - 15'
Air draft - 45'
Tonnage - 300GRT
Speed (max.) - 12 knots,
Endurance - 5 days
Crew - 4, supplementary personnel - 12
Control stations are located both forward and aft in the wheelhouse, with bidirectional operation and visibility of all working deck areas being a key feature. Exceptional low speed maneuvrability and stationkeeping are provided by the Voith Schneider propulsion system.
Propulsion power is being provided by a pair of Caterpillar 3512C Main Engines developing 2,012 bhp at 1,600 rpm, which are driving two Voith Schneider Propellers VSP 26GII/165 AE45. An additional two Caterpillar 3512C engines, and one Caterpillar C12 engine will team up with the drive engines to power the array of seven firefighting pumps, ranging in size from 2,000 GPM to 8,000 GPM with a total aggregate capacity of 41,000 GPM.
The vessels will be equipped with ten monitors in total, the largest capable of delivering 12,000 GPM at a 600’ range. This monitor alone exceeds the requirements of a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Type II fireboat. In addition there will be nine other monitors ranging from 1,500 to 6,000 GPM. Two of these monitors will be able to deliver 6,000 GPM of firefighting foam at a range of 500’. There are four hydrants with a capacity of 500 GPM in conjunction with the shoreside supply of up 22,000 GPM.
Robert Allan Ltd. is an independent, privately owned firm of Consulting Naval Architects, established in Vancouver. The business was founded in 1930 when iRobert Allan commenced private practice as a Consulting Naval Architect after managing a local shipyard. The firm's reputation was also enhanced by the design of such notable ocean-going motor yachts as Meander and Fifer.