The Philadelphia Fire Department started operating the fireboat Independence in 2007.[1][2] The vessel was purchased for $5 million, $4.5 million of which came from a FEMA Port Security Grant.

On September 10, 2010, both the Independence and a smaller fireboat, Fireboat Seven from Westville, New Jersey, responded to a dock fire in Paulsboro, New Jersey.[3][4] Fireboat Seven arrived first and put the fire out prior to the arrival of Independence. Independence received orders to turn around when it was near the dock. She reversed quickly generating a large wake which apparently caused Fireboat Seven to collide with shore-side equipment.

Westville's insurance adjuster determined Fireboat Seven was damaged beyond repair.[3][4][5] Having initially failed to reach a settlement with the City of Philadelphia, on July 30, 2014, Westville filed a lawsuit in Federal Court. Philadelphia countersued. Philadelphia settled on March 31, 2016 for $117,000.

Specifications[2]
Length20.15 metres (66.1 ft)
Beam, Moulded6 metres (20 ft)
Depth, Moulded2.28 metres (7.5 ft)
Draft0.81 metres (2.7 ft)
Power4 x 681 kilowatts (913 shp)
Maximum speed36 knots (67 km/h)
Fire monitors
1 x 3,500 gpm (800 m³/hr) – remote controlled, and operated on a hinged lifting mast for elevated operations
1 x 1,500 gpm (343 m³/hr) – manual controls, forward
2 x 1,000 gpm (2 x 230 m³/hr) – manual controls

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tug designer finds 'Independence' in Philadelphia". Maritime Journal. 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2018-09-05. Shortly before Christmas the City of Philadelphia Fire Department commissioned ' Independence' , the new RAnger 2000 Class fireboat designed by Robert Allan Ltd and built by Derektor Shipyards of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
  2. 1 2 "Ranger 2000 class fireboat Independence for Philadelphia from Robert Allan Ltd". Robert Allan Limited. 2007-12-20. Archived from the original on 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-09-05. This new fast response, shallow-draft fireboat, which is of all-welded aluminium construction, is designed to specifically address the fire fighting and rescue needs of the Philadelphia region waterfront.
  3. 1 2 Jason Laday (2014-07-28). "Westville suing Philadelphia for $140K over 2010 fire boat damage". South Jersey Times. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19. Westville's fire boat No. 7 was dispatched to the scene, as was the Independence, a fireboat in the Philadelphia Fire Department's Marine Unit.
  4. 1 2 Barbara Boyer (2014-07-30). "Westville, Phila. battle over fire boat claim". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2015-09-20. According to the lawsuit, on the evening of Sept. 16, 2010, Westville firefighters arrived first in their FB7 vessel, contained the blaze, and advised Philadelphia that further assistance was not needed from the city's boat, the Independence.
  5. ↑ Jim Walsh (2016-03-31). "Westville's 'war' finally comes to an end". Courier Post. Archived from the original on 2018-09-05. England repelling the Spanish Armada in 1588. The United States smashing a Japanese fleet at Midway in 1942. And for the last six years, Westville and Philadelphia fighting over a fire boat.
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