Following an 11-day trip from Louisiana, MDFR will be welcoming home the two new 50-by-16-foot vessels built by Metal Shark in Franklin, LA, with a specialized arrangement optimized for firefighting.  With a projected top speed of more than 43 knots and mission-enhancing features, the new state-of-the-art MDFR fireboats will protect our South Florida waterways in more agile and efficient ways.   

As part of the much-anticipated welcoming ceremony, MDFR Fireboat 21 and Fireboat 73 will be waiting by the North jetty and will bring in the new fireboats via Government Cut with a celebratory water salute. Upon the arrival of the new fireboats at the West Turning Basin, the old fireboats will shut down pump operations, and the new fireboats will pump for three minutes to be welcomed home.    

The new fleet will allow for faster response time as well as increased pumping capabilities for firefighting. With the new generation of state-of-the-art fireboats, MDFR will continue to conduct marine fire-rescue response operations safely and efficiently for many years to come.

MDFR fireboats will be arriving to PortMiami today, however they will not be placed into service immediately. An official ceremony will take place in a couple of weeks as soon as the boats are ready to go into service.