Our Boats

The Three Forty Three will provide the FDNY with the latest technology available for Marine vessels, including the capability of pumping 50,000 gallons of water per minute; nearly 30,000 gallons more than its predecessor. The Three Forty Three has been designed, with the assistance of U.S. Navy engineers from the U.S. military's Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense and Naval Sea Systems Command, to detect and protect firefighters from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. The ship contains a pressurized area that filters the air supply using special charcoal and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, allowing the crew members to operate when needed in hostile environments. Decontamination and first aid can be handled aboard the ship as well by means of a de-con shower area that leads to a triage and first-aid station.

Other innovative designs make this ship extremely useful to the FDNY. The Three Forty Three features a forward ballast tank which lowers the boat in the water to match its deck with larger ferries that operate in the waters around New York City. This feature will allow the fireboat to safely transfer and evacuate people in an emergency. The ship's pilot house is configured to allow the Captain a 360-degree view of an operation, which can assist with maneuvering the vessel in tight quarters. In addition, the Three Forty Three has a command and control area where the ship's officers will be able to monitor and direct fire operations with the aid of remote cameras and state-of-theart communication equipment.

The Three Forty Three, and her sister ship Firefighter II (currently undergoing sea trials in Panama City, Florida), were paid for in large part by $54 million in grants from the Department of Homeland Security. The Three Forty Three's original design is from naval architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C. The Three Forty Three was constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Florida.

This boat looks like an Avon boat (inflatable pontoons). The pontoons or collars on this boat are filled with rigid foam that will not fail. On an Avon type boat, if the pontoons fail, the boat will sink. The hull of this boat is sealed and pressure tested, no bilge. It is self bailing without any forward motion. This boat is unsinkable and fully functional even without the collars. The boat is propelled by two 250 horsepower, 4 stroke, Yamaha outboards. The boat skims across the top of the waves at 50 miles per hour. This speed has proven to be needed.

In the first year of service Marine 1 has saved the lives of 4 people and 2 dogs. The boat was delivered to Maine 1 in April of 2006. The electronics on this boat are state of the art, with 3 Motorola radios, to communicate with fire and police units. There are two VHF radios to communicate with Coast Guard, police boats, and other vessels on the water. A Furuno radar and G.P.S. system to guided us through fog, darkness, and into shallow water. On the bow of the boat is a small fire pump that can be used on small boat fires or under pier fires. We carry water rescue equipment to help and protect the firefighters when we have to enter the water for a rescue. Then, when we have to treat a person, we have CFR-D equipment (Certified first responder with defibrillator).