Premier

New Firefighting Boat On Victoria’s Waterways

25 May 2015

In a boost to safety on Victoria’s waterways, a new $1.4 million firefighting boat was presented to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) today.

Minister for Emergency Services, Jane Garrett, says the state-of-the art vessel will be critical in fighting fires on the waterways and shipping channels around Melbourne.

The ‘Fireboat 2’ is a 12–metre-long, 18.3-tonne, water-jet powered craft, capable of travelling at speeds of 63 kilometres an hour.

The vessel will respond to incidents such as boat fires in the Port of Melbourne as well as in Port Phillip Bay and Docklands.

It can travel as far as Charles Grimes Bridge on the Yarra River and Footscray Road Bridge on the Maribyrnong River.

At full capacity, Fireboat 2 can pump 16,000 litres per minute – the equivalent of two MFB trucks running flat out.

Fireboat 2 will support MFB’s firefighting capability through responding to boat fires, including marine firefighting operations and transferring fire fighters and equipment to other vessels, responding to hazardous materials incidents, conducting rescues on the waterways and training exercises.

The boat will now undergo an operational commissioning phase and is expected to be ready operationally from August this year.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services, Jane Garrett

“The Fireboat 2 is a major boost to the MFB’s marine capabilities and will make our waterways safer.”

Many people are living on our waterways so it is critical that emergency services remain equipped to respond to complex incidents on and around the port.”

“Our firefighters go above and beyond and this will help them to continue their great work in protecting lives and property.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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