Robert Allan-designed first fireboat of RAnger V-3300 series performs duties at Port of Long Beach

The Protector, the first in a series of two RAnger V-3300 design fireboats arrived at the Port of Long Beach and went into service in June of 2016, the ship designer said in a press release. The second vessel Vigilance is scheduled for delivery in mid-2017.

Robert Allan Ltd. has emerged as a global leader in designing high-performance response vessels of many types and in particular, large fireboats for major ports worldwide. In addition to their 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.

In the summer of 2011, Robert Allan Ltd. was awarded a contract to prepare plans and specifications for a pair of fireboats for the Port of Long Beach, California. Due to operational proximity, the Los Angeles fireboat Warner L. Lawrence (a 2001 Robert Allan Ltd. design) heavily influenced the owner’s requirements.

These new fireboats feature Voith cycloidal drives in a tractor configuration, giving the vessels exceptional manoeuvrability 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 optimised 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.