Americas News
Fuel Efficient Fireboats Two of the "World's Most Powerful"
German engineering company Voith says it will provide propulsion technology to two fireboats for the U.S. Port of Long Beach that will be "among the world's most powerful."
Two of the boats' four fire pumps are driven by their diesel engines, allowing them to be positioned fuel-efficiently using Voith Schneider Propellers (VSPs).
Because the VSP pitch can be altered, the boats can operate efficiently under all operating conditions, the company said.
Each of the two fireboats will be able to shoot more than 40,000 gallons of water per minute, sending it to a height of 236 feet and a distance of 580 feet.
The vessels, which are being built by the Foss Maritime shipyard in Seattle, will replace two existing fireboats in the spring and autumn of 2014.
The relatively short, 5.4 foot VSP blades allow the vessels to enter shallow parts of the port, which means they can support firefighting onshore as well as in the water.
The Port of Long Beach has been focused on improving the energy efficiency of its operations in recent years.
