The boat hadn't been out of the water since delivery, so they were going over her hull with a fine tooth comb. At least that's what the shipyard employees told me when I was down there.
Now do they practice code 3 runs with this (lights and sirens), or try and jump calls so they can get training while going to a call.
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I'm not exactly sure of how FDNY*EMS does it, but we do a three day EVOC course on a closed pad, then later during the academy, we run scenarios where buildings that have been seized by the city are used. It's a pretty good way to get a feel for the vehicle, as well as a feel for navigation around the city in a semi-controlled environment. We do not run Priority 1 when performing these scenarios, but the truck does run the risk of on-siting an actual call, so there is a Field Training Officer with the recruits to ensure that they perform to standard. At the end of the classroom portion of the academy, there is a 12 week field internship where two recruits with a Field Training Officer (in 3 week cycles) run as a citywide truck, where everything is live.
So i finally grabbed some shots of the 343,i was actually hanging around the north cove marina for a few hours shooting pics with friends when it came along.
FDNY commissioned its newest fireboat, "The Bravest". It is 64 feet long, weighs 40 tons, achieves 45 knots (52 mph) and develops 6,000 gpm.
Here's a click after the crew boarded the vessel.
Following that there was a demo of the two new boats, 343 and Firefighter II and the Kane which will become a spare.
Each of the new boats throws 50,000 and the Kane does 6,500. The pic shows 106,500 gallons being delivered. The Kane is much smaller and was rocked by the waves in the Hudson River which is why its streams are serpentine.
After the ceremonies were over an alarm came in causing the Big Guy to head up the Hudson at speed. Several smaller boats in the marina also cast off and headed out.
At the end of the line of incoming ships is the USS Iwo Jima. An eleven gun salute was fired from Fort Hamilton . In the last pic there's a small white puff on the upper deck of the Iwo (just above and behind the number 7). That is their returning the salute.