Just before Christmas last year we ended up with a last-minute customer for the year, the 65’  “City of Portland IV.” The City of Portland (COP) is the latest edition to Portland Maine’s fleet of fire fighting equipment. She was built in Meteghan River Nova Scotia by A.F. Theriault & Son (www.aftheriault.com) a well established builder of a large range of boats. From patrol boats to fishing trawlers, they do it all.

The COP was built to replace an aging fireboat that protected the beautiful City of Portland and its vast working waterfront. Portland also has several outlying islands with year round residents. The COP was also built as a floating ambulance. She is complete with a cabin that is a replica of that found in an ambulance. The idea being all of the same gear that is stowed neatly in an ambulance is stowed in the same cabins onboard the COP. This way an EMT unfamiliar with the boat knows exactly where to find important life saving gear- great idea if you ask me!

Unfortunately the COP was involved in a grounding during one of her first rescue missions that took place at night. Combining the job of Fire and Rescue with all of the dangers that that can exist in a marine environment make an already dangerous job even more challenging. Navigating a 65’ boat at night has different challenges than running a fire truck through the city streets. The bottom line is they certainly add another element of danger to their already dangerous job. I’ve got a great respect for what these guys do on the hard and even more so in the water.

The damage resulting from the grounding would require fairly extensive repairs by somebody who had great skill and experience in the field, as well as a good atmosphere to complete them. The contract to repair the COP was awarded to Rockland Marine, who are well known and established in the work boat realm. They repair everything from tugs to Coast Guard cutters in the South End of Rockland. In order to complete the work on the COP, Rockland Marine needed an indoor heated facility capable of hauling and housing the boat while the work was being undertaken. We are proud to announce Rockland Marine chose us as their partner in the project.

One week before Christmas, the COP was towed up from Portland by a 120’ tug out of Portland Harbor. I had the task of taking our 26’ yard tug, The Barbie D, and towing the fire boat in from the outer harbor. It was a David and Goliath situation, but the trusty Barbie D had no problem bringing the fire boat fireboat along side. In all my years of towing boats in Camden, the COP was the biggest I’ve wrangled on the hip to date!

 

Work progressed for nearly two months in Building One, as our fabrication team worked alongside the team from Rockland Marine; repairs were made to the keel, both rudders, the port prop shaft and strut, both props and various other items.

Having the City of Portland here at Wayfarer and working with the Rockland Marine team was a pleasure, together both companies provided the City of Portland with the best possible repairs by certified welders and machinists in a good work atmosphere. Although she wasn’t the yachts we’re used to working on the entire yard was delighted to see a work boat here, and especially one that is used to protect both lives and property.

 

-Ben