American United (fireboat)

American United
History
Name:	American United
Operator:	Massachusetts Port Authority
Awarded:	Dec. 28, 2007
Builder:	A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd.
Sponsored by:	Department of Homeland Security
Acquired:	October 11, 2011[1]
Homeport:	Boston, MA
Identification:	MMSI number: 367507210 Callsign: M-31
Status:	Delivered, Not in Service[2]
Notes:	Predecessor: Howard W. Fitzpatrick
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fireboat
Length:	24 m (79 ft)[3]
Beam:	6.76 m (22.2 ft)
Draft:	7 ft (2.1 m)
Installed power:	2 × 1,450 BHP C32 and 2 × 873 BHP C18 Caterpillar[4]
Propulsion:	4 × 5 Blade Fixed Pitch Propellers, ZF Reduction Gears.
Speed:	24 kn (28 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried:	30 × Switlik life rafts
Capacity:	2 × 3,000 U.S. gpm firepumps [5]

American United is a Ranger-class Robert Allan Ltd. designed fireboat built to serve the Massachusetts Port Authority as a replacement to Massport Marine Unit 1, the Howard W. Fitzpatrick. It was scheduled to be placed in service in June 2011, and was delivered October 11, 2011, due to the complexity of the build.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Manufacturing

The American United was built by A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd. of Meteghan River, Nova Scotia

Purpose

The vessel is intended to support Logan Airport firefighting, search and rescue, EMS, and Port Security capability.^[11]

References