Emergency Service Vessel News Roundup | June 9 – A Chinese firefighting boat plus response craft for US federal and municipal operators

The US Coast Guard welcomes a fast cutter into service while two municipal agencies in New York State take delivery of new response craft from the same builder. Meanwhile, a firefighting vessel to be deployed out of China’s Hainan Island is launched into the water for the first time.

US Coast Guard commissions cutter Maurice Jester

The US Coast Guard commissioned its newest Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) in a ceremony at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island on Friday, June 2.

USCGC Maurice Jester is the third of six FRCs that will be homeported in Boston, serving with the First Coast Guard District.

Built by Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana, the 154-foot (46.8-metre) Sentinel-class cutters are designed for multiple missions including drug and migrant interdiction, ports, waterways and coastal security, fishery patrols, and search and rescue (SAR). Armament includes a 25mm autocannon and four 12.7mm machine guns.

Washington builder delivers boats to New York State emergency responders

The Suffolk County Police Department of New York has taken delivery of a new response boat built by Bremerton, Washington-based Safe Boats International.

The vessel has been named Sgt Dave Cherkes in honour of the late David Cherkes, a former Suffolk County Police officer. Sergeant Cherkes, who had served with the department’s Marine Bureau, died of cancer shortly after his retirement in 2020.

The 38-foot (11.5-metre) boat is equipped for patrol, SAR, and firefighting duties. For firefighting, the vessel relies on an integrated pump and a remotely controlled monitor.

Safe Boats also handed a new response vessel over to the City of Dunkirk Fire Department in New York.

The 25-foot (7.62-metre) Marine 1 is fitted with a fire pump and monitor and is powered by two Mercury outboards.

The electronics include a Raymarine radar and a Teledyne FLIR thermal camera.

Chinese yard launches offshore firefighting vessel

China’s Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard has floated out a new firefighting and rescue vessel to be operated by the Haikou Fire Rescue Detachment on Hainan Island.

Haiqian 1 will be operated primarily in the South China Sea off Hainan. It will be capable of firefighting duties in both offshore and nearshore waters.

The vessel will be fitted with two main engines and a hangar that can house unmanned aerial vehicles.