John J. Harvey
JOHN J. HARVEY WAS LAUNCHED 90 YEARS AGO!
Join us for a celebration of 90 years of service
Monday September 20 at 6:00 PM
Pier 66, West 26th St. and 12th Avenue
Fireboat John J. Harvey, launched in Brooklyn in 1931, was named for FDNY pilot John J. Harvey. Firefighter Harvey was killed in the line of duty fighting a ship fire. Harvey was a historic first; the first fireboat powered by internal combustion engines and the first that could pump and maneuver simultaneously. She was the largest, fastest fire fighting machine of her time, capable of pumping 18,000 gallons per minute, roughly the equivalent of 20 terrestrial fire trucks. The innovations of her design influenced all subsequent fireboats.
Harvey served and protected NY Harbor for over 6 decades, assisting during such notable fires as the Cunard Line pier fire in 1932, the burning of Normandie in 1942, and the potentially disastrous fire on ammunition ship El Estero during World War II. Decommissioned in 1994, Harvey was saved from the scrap yard by a dedicated group of volunteers and restored as an operational museum and education center, offering free public trips in New York Harbor, and attending notable maritime festivals in Waterford and Oyster Bay in NY, and Mystic and New London in CT.
On September 11 2001, John J. Harvey was recalled to service by the FDNY and reactivated as Marine Company 2. Alongside the FDNY fireboats Fire Fighter and John D. McKean she pumped water for 80 hours until water mains in lower Manhattan were restored to service. Harvey's action that week was the subject of countless print and video news articles as well as a 2002 Maira Kalman book Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey.
The fireboat is moored at Pier 66 Maritime, at 26th St. and the Hudson River alongside the Frying Pan restaurant and the lightship Frying Pan.
IT'S BEEN A NOT QUITE COVID FREE 2021 SUMMER!
Two thirds of the way through the 2021 we've run some very popular public trips and have carefully monitored the COVID pandemic to protect the crew and visitors.
We were scheduled to participate in river festivals in Kingston and Hudson NY but had to cancel due to a positive COVID test. Luckily the crew members were vaccinated and had very mild symptons. With the Delta variant driving up the numbers clearly precautions are warranted.
Going forward all guests eligible for vaccines must be fully vaccinated. Children must be masked while on board. Tours of the engine room and wheelhouse have been suspended in an abundance of caution.
Our intrepid corps of volunteers continue to work on maintenance and painting while keeping safe from COVID.
And do join us for John J. Harvey's 90th Anniversary party at 6:00 PM, Monday, September 20. RESERVE YOUR SEAT BY CLICKING HERE!
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