The New Fire Fighter II Fireboat is Commissioned

The FDNY's newest fireboat, the Fire Fighter II was commissioned on Dec. 7, at the Marine Company 9 Homeport on Staten Island. It is the second marine vessel to join the FDNY's Marine Division in 2010.

The fireboat will be assigned to Marine 9, replacing the current 72-year-old ship, the Fire Fighter, named in honor of all FDNY members who have died in the line of duty.

Among the honored guests at the commissioning ceremony were Capt. Linda Fagan, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, New York sector; Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro; and Line of Duty families' representative Addie LaPiedra, widow of FDNY Capt. Scott LaPiedra.

Also attending the ceremony was retired Marine Pilot Ed Sadler, who was assigned to work on the original Fire Fighter in 1938, three months after its commissioning. He continued to work aboard the vessel as a pilot for 35 years.

Fire Fighter II can pump 50,000 gallons of water per minute, as well as detect and protect firefighters from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents.

She and her sister ship, the Three Forty Three (currently assigned to Marine 1 on the west side of Manhattan), were funded in large part by $54 million in grants from the Department of Homeland Security.

Fire Fighter II's original design is from naval architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C. and was constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla.

The FDNY Marine Fleet is responsible for over 450 miles of coastline and harbors and has protected New York City residents for 135 years.