Last month, our Department was the lucky recipient of two surplus United States Coast Guard 41' Utility Boats (USCG 41' UTB) through the Federal Excess Property Program (FEPP). FEPP is a program that allows other government agencies to acquire and utilize Federal property at little or no cost, except for operation, modifications and maintenance, and to be returned when use is discontinued.
Through a series of fortunate events, these boats were sent to the USCG Station Los Angeles/Long Beach for decommissioning. Due to the cost of transportation, other agencies declined the vessels which would ultimately be cut up for scrap metal. When it was brought to the attention of the Department that they were available for acquisition, staff from Fire Fleet Services and Division VII made a trip to inspect them in dry dock at the Coast Guard Base and determined that, with proper modifications, one would be an excellent replacement for Fire Boat 310.
With Executive authorization, both boats would be acquired, one for use and one for parts. On July 26, the boats were floated and in the early morning of July 27, staff from Fire Fleet Services piloted both boats under their own power from Long Beach to Marina Del Rey with a safety escort from LACoFD ocean Lifeguards.
The 41' UTB is the perfect replacement for Fire Boat 310. It is capable of speeds up to 26 knots compared to 310s 12 knots. It has an enclosed cockpit and is suitable for operation in 30 knot winds and 8' seas and is constructed of military spec materials which show no signs of significant deterioration which is evident on 310s commercial manufacturing due to 40 years of salt water operation. This boat will provide the Department the ability to get additional resources with quicker response times at longer distances to off-shore incidents.
One of the boats was dry docked and work has already begun on modernization and retrofitting. A 1250 GPM pump will provide sea water to a remote controlled monitor and fire discharge connections, which will take the place of machine gun mounts. Updating the propulsion engines, electrical system and navigation equipment will provide for years of safe and reliable operation and a transom mounted rescue platform will aid in water rescues. Retrofits are expected to take approximately six months. |
