New fireboat ready for water
By Wawmeesh G. Hamilton - Alberni Valley News
Published: July 08, 2010 1:00 PM
Updated: July 08, 2010 5:22 PM
Port Alberni’s newest fireboat hits the water this weekend, fire Chief Tim Pley said.
Tradesmen at Kamma and Blake are put the finishing touches on the $135,000 refitted Harbour Chieftain this week.
“There’s some pump, engine and electrical work to be finished but it should be ready for the water possibly next week,” Pley said.
Last November, city council approved replacing the existing 32-year-old Frank Harrison with the Harbour Chieftain. The initiative was cost shared between the city and port authority.
“We had to spend some of the contingency to clean up the wiring,” Pley said.
The refit includes a stand-alone fire pump, foam system, plumbing to uptake sea water for firefighting and electronics. The new boat also has a bow thruster, enabling the boat to be more maneuverable than the Frank Harrison.
“Everything can be remote controlled from the wheelhouse,” Pley said.
The boat will be taken ashore once more for some adjustments, but will be good to go after that, Pley said.
A port authority employee will likely captain the ship with a firefighter aboard. Both will spend some time acclimatizing to the new boat.
[email protected]
PHOTOCREDIT:
Workers put the finishing touches on the city's new fireboat - the Harbour Chieftain. The $135,000 craft will be test run this weekend, adjusted, then put into service fulltime next week. It's predecessor - 32-year-old Frank Harrison II - will be decommissioned and possibly sold.
WAWMEESH G. HAMILTON/Alberni Valley News
By Wawmeesh G. Hamilton - Alberni Valley News
Published: July 08, 2010 1:00 PM
Updated: July 08, 2010 5:22 PM
Port Alberni’s newest fireboat hits the water this weekend, fire Chief Tim Pley said.
Tradesmen at Kamma and Blake are put the finishing touches on the $135,000 refitted Harbour Chieftain this week.
“There’s some pump, engine and electrical work to be finished but it should be ready for the water possibly next week,” Pley said.
Last November, city council approved replacing the existing 32-year-old Frank Harrison with the Harbour Chieftain. The initiative was cost shared between the city and port authority.
“We had to spend some of the contingency to clean up the wiring,” Pley said.
The refit includes a stand-alone fire pump, foam system, plumbing to uptake sea water for firefighting and electronics. The new boat also has a bow thruster, enabling the boat to be more maneuverable than the Frank Harrison.
“Everything can be remote controlled from the wheelhouse,” Pley said.
The boat will be taken ashore once more for some adjustments, but will be good to go after that, Pley said.
A port authority employee will likely captain the ship with a firefighter aboard. Both will spend some time acclimatizing to the new boat.
[email protected]
PHOTOCREDIT:
Workers put the finishing touches on the city's new fireboat - the Harbour Chieftain. The $135,000 craft will be test run this weekend, adjusted, then put into service fulltime next week. It's predecessor - 32-year-old Frank Harrison II - will be decommissioned and possibly sold.
WAWMEESH G. HAMILTON/Alberni Valley News