Massport Boston Fire Boat

CapeCodFD.com
Special Feature

FIREBOATS
Photos by Britton W Crosby

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Boston Massport

Original Feature Posted April 26, 2004 - Re-launched January 28, 2012
Updated March 26, 2025

Marine Division 1 Massport Old Boats 2
Massport New Boats 3 Massport New Boats 4
Boston Fireboats

OLD FIREBOATS - 2

BOSTON LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
MASSPORT FIRE BOATS
Logan International Airport is the largest airport in the New England area.
It is located in East Boston, essentially in the middle of Boston Harbor.
The airport is surrounded by water and all runway approaches and
departures are over Boston Harbor.

The Port of Boston and Logan Airport are protected in part by the
independent Massport Fire Department even though it is within
the city limits of Boston.

In addition to the ARFF services at the airport, Massport maintains
a marine division to support fire / rescue emergencies around the
airport and within the port of Boston.

The "old" Massport fireboat, called the "Howard W. Fitzpatrick"
was nearly identical to the Boston fireboat "Firefighter"
both built around 1971-1972.

Massport has had a number of smaller support boats
and commissioned a brand new fireboat
"American United" in 2011 named after two flights
that left Logan on the morning of September 11, 2011.

A smaller second Massport Boat was in service in 2009 as Marine 2
aka Marine 32. A 2009 Moose Boat 37'5" catamaran Fireboat
with a 500 gpm pump. That boat sunk accidentally at the dock.

A new 2025 Metal Shark Defiant nxt 43' Fireboat M-32
with twin 1500 gpm pumps was delivered in March 2025.

The Boston Fire Department also operates a Marine Unit
and works in conjunction with Massport.

BOSTON BOAT PROJECT
NEW BOSTON BOAT

"Howard W. Fitzpatrick"
Massport Fireboat 1
Built in 1971 by Grafton Boat Co., Inc in Grafton, IL
78' 7" LOA, 20' 5" beam
6,000 gpm capacity
Photos 1980's
Operated by Massport at Logan Airport
Twin to the Boston Fire Department Fireboat
"Firefighter"

"Howard W. Fitzpatrick"
The Massport Fireboat
Originally painted blue.
Photo 1980s