Ocean Craft Marine, Annapolis, Md., has built a 31'2" rigid-hull inflatable boat for Hopewell Fire & EMS, Va., designed to handle firefighting and rescue calls as well as patrol, boarding and port security missions for the Hopewell Police Department.
The boat will also serve as a designated asset of the Port of Virginia’s Maritime Incident Response Team (MIRT), adding fire suppression, search and rescue, dive support and waterborne law enforcement capabilities to the regional response fleet.
Built to OCM’s Fire/SAR configuration, the vessel combines equipment for both departments on a single platform intended for operations amid the James River’s currents, weather and commercial vessel traffic.
Firefighting equipment includes a Darley HGE37V pump supplied by a through-hull intake and feeding a Task Force Tips monitor. Tracks on the foredeck accommodate a portable pump, while dedicated storage holds 200' of 1.88" hose.
Twin Yamaha F300 outboards provide a combined 600 hp. Yamaha’s Helm Master EX joystick control and autopilot assist crews with maneuvering and holding position alongside vessels or piers during response operations.
For law enforcement work, the boat carries a Whelen siren and public address system with an integrated signal horn, a red-and-blue LED light bar, and a remotely controlled ACR RCL-95 searchlight for nighttime searches and boarding operations.
Ullman Dynamics suspension seats provide crew seating beneath an aluminum T-top. A hinged, folding mast reduces clearance requirements during trailering.
The boat’s hybrid-foam tubes feature a triple rub strake, with port and starboard dive notches providing access for dive operations and over-the-side recovery.
The vessel’s outfit includes navigation lights, navigation and lifesaving equipment, and two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 180 gals. and independent filtration.
OCM supplied a Float-On aluminum triple-axle trailer, allowing Hopewell crews to transport the boat to launch sites closer to an incident.
The builder said it will provide factory technical support, parts and maintenance guidance throughout the vessel’s operating life.
