The following is text of a news release from Metal Shark:
(JEANERETTE, La.) — Metal Shark has announced that it is building a custom 70 Defiant fireboat for Canaveral Fire Rescue in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The new fireboat is a 70-by-22-foot welded aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team utilizing a military-proven hull form. The vessel features a specialized layout designed for firefighters and optimized to enhance the fepartment’s operational readiness across the full spectrum of response scenarios.
“The 70 Defiant is the result of the latest thinking in fireboat design and will provide a significant capability boost for Canaveral Fire,” said Dean Jones, Metal Shark’s vice president of sales for law enforcement, fire rescue, and specialty markets. “From the selection and integration of firefighting systems to the layout of the vessel’s fire control center, operator input was vital and significantly influenced the vessel’s configuration. Heavy emphasis was placed on accessibility and overall ease of use, and the result is a purpose-built firefighting machine with next-level capabilities and a crew-friendly layout that firefighters will love.”
The vessel’s design incorporates a positive-pressure chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) system to provide crew protection during disaster response scenarios. A complete suite of electronics including an M400XR FLIR thermal imaging system with firefighting software will provide next-level situational awareness.
Client-driven firefighting particulars include include twin Darley fire pumps rated at 3,000 gallons per minute each feeding two 2,000-gpm remote-operated bow monitors, a 5,000-gpm remote operated rooftop monitor, two 1,250-gpm manually operated aft deck monitors, two aft deck risers with dual 2.5-inch hand line connections, and dual 5-inch Storz hydrant outlets. The vessel is equipped with a 500-gallon foam tank with gravity fast feed capability and integrated Purple K system. Total expected flow rate is in excess of 8,500 gpm.
Metal Shark offers the 70 Defiant with a wide range of propulsion packages enabling the vessel to achieve top speeds of 45-plus knots. Canaveral’s vessel will be powered by quad 800-horsepower MAN diesel engines mated to quad HamiltonJet waterjets. This configuration will deliver a cruise speed in the 30-knot range and a top speed of 35 knots.
The Canaveral order comes amid a significant expansion by Metal Shark into the U.S. fireboat market. In April, Metal Shark announced that it had been selected to build the next generation of fireboats for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue department, with a multi-boat order for 50-foot Defiant-class pilothouse fireboats currently in production.
In addition to Canaveral and Miami-Dade, notable new and recent Metal Shark fireboat customers include Captiva Fire Department (Florida), City of Punta Gorda Fire Department (Florida), Fairfax County Fire Rescue (Virginia), Grand Isle Volunteer Fire Department (Louisiana), Greater Naples Fire Department (Florida), Harrods Creek Fire Department (Kentucky), Miami Beach Fire Department (Florida), Newport News Fire Department (Virginia), South Bowers Volunteer Fire Department (Delaware), St. Petersburg Beach Fire Department (Florida), and West Manatee Fire and Rescue (Florida).
