Miami-Dade Fireboats

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Photos by Britton W Crosby

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New Page Added March 7, 2021 Updated April 11, 2023

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY - FIREBOAT 73

Miami-Dade County Fireboat
"Fireboat 73"
~ Port of Miami ~
2021 Metal Shark Defiant 50 CBRNE Fire Boat
Mono-Hull Pilothouse Welded Aluminum vessel
55' LOA - 17' 5" Beam
8,500 gpm using (2) Darley 3,000 pumps each with dedicated sea chests
and a combined system to supply all discharges.
Powered by twin 1,200 hp diesels and Jet Drives
Capable of 44 knots
Carries 110 gallons of AFFF
Roof mounted monitor and (2) aft monitors, as well as numerous discharges
All the latest in electronics, navigation, GPS, sonar, FLIR, and communications.
(3) patient treatment positions.

This new boat is docked at the Miami-Dade Marine Headquarters
at the west end of Dodge Island under the NE 6th Street / Port Blvd bridges
at the Port of Miami facilities for cruise and container ships.
The Miami-Dade facilities are across the harbor from the City of Miami Fireboats.

Haulover Park near Station 21, 10,500 Collins Ave.
Staffed by (4) personnel, capable of up to 16 seated personnel.

It replaced the 2007 MetalCraft FireStorm 50
7,000 gpm Fireboat 73 that originally was Fireboat 1.

Photos March 2021

Fireboat 73

The new 2021 Metal Shark Fireboat 73 located under the NE 6th Street bridge.
Both of the new Miami-Dade Fire Rescue boats were delivered together in early 2021
after making the week long voyage from Louisiana where they were built. They are
expected to be fully in service in March or April 2021.
Both MetalCraft boats are also still here at the dock while the move to the newer
boats is under way.

Miami-Dade is also expecting additional boat deliveries from Metal Shark, including a
36' vessel expected around June 2021, and two 38' rapid response vessels, primarily for EMS emergencies,
which will be paired with FB21 & FB73.
Ultimately, a 3rd Defiant 50, with enhanced Purple K chemical agent capability, is expected to
join the fleet, to better manage potential shipboard fires, as cruise ships and others vessels are switching
to LNG fuel to meet new environmental standards.

March 2021

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A lot is going on at the Port of Miami. The former quarters of the Fireboat 73 crew have been
torn down and a new cruise ship terminal is being built at its former site. The area was being
dredged and much activity is in progress. The FB-73 crew is in temporary quarters a short
distance away. It is yet to be determined what facilities will be in place when all is completed.
March 2021

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I was welcomed along for a cruise on Fireboat 73.
Thanks to Chief Alverez, Lt Andy Machado, and crew members Mike, Bernie, and Danny
for a wonderful opportunity to experience this new vessel.

The fire pump controls

The helm

As with any boat, even a brand new one, keeping the bottom clean and free of any growth
that may interfere with systems or operations requires hands on labor. The boat nosed
up onto one of the islands in the port to clean the bottom.

The Port of Miami is home port to container facilities, cruise ships, hundreds of yachts,
and many spectacular waterfront properties.

Operation of the Fireboat requires the crew of 4 to work together
utilizing the latest in communications, navigation, and electronic systems
as well as tried and true boat operating skills.