John P. Devaney (fireboat)
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The John P. Devaney was a fireboat operated briefly by the Fire Department of New York City in late 1992 and early 1993.[1] She was named after a firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty.[2]
The John P. Devaney, and her sister ship, the Alfred E. Ronaldson, were experimental "surface effect ship" designs, a design related to hovercrafts.[2] The vessels had a pair of catamaran hulls. A rubber skirt between the two hulls could be inflated by powerful fans, and this enabled her to travel at over 30 knots (56 km/h). The vessels' fibreclass hulls were shipped from Europe. They came equipped with a high-tech sensor suite.
The vessels were expensive, costing $3.5 million each. But after they were commission, in November 1992, they only saw five months of active service, because their maintenance was too complicated.[2]
