The City Of Newport will accept it’s new fire boat, Marine 6, on Monday, April 23rd. million Fire Department’s new boat, Marine 6, is on the way to Newport from California, according to Capt. Paul Faerber. It’s due to arrive Monday.
The $887,000 boat is currently on its ways from Moose Boats in Vallejo, CA to Newport. Newport Patch reports that Marine 6 will be named “William H. Connerton, Jr.”, after the former Newport Fire Chief and firefighter.
The official christening of the new vessel is currently scheduled for Saturday, May 5 at 10 am at Perrotti Park.
Background
At a March 22, 2017 City Council Meeting, Newport City Council voted in favor of awarding a contract to Moose Boats, out of Vallejo, CA, to build a new fireboat for Newport Fire Department. The contract awarded was to build a “new Fire/Rescue/CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) Boat as part of its 2016 Port Security Grant Program endowment for the sum of $887,642.00 utilizing the US General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule 84 as permissible per Council Resolution 2016-107”.
On April 13, 2015, Newport City Council had approved $267,500 to replace Newport Fire Department’s current rescue boat in 2017 through the Vehicle Replacement Plan, in the 2017 Operating Budget. Shortly after that (on April 23, 2016) the Newport Fire Department applied to the 2016 Port Security Grant Program to obtain a Fire & Rescue Boat which “would greatly increase its operational capabilities and enhance the safety of the residents of Newport and it’s visitors in and around the waters bordering the community”, according to the resolution
After the FEMA sanctioned grant, the City of Newport was responsible for 25% of that total ($221,910.50), but local philanthropist Peter Kiernan III stepped up and pledged $200,000 to offset the City Of Newport’s share of the cost in the acquisition of the new fire boat. With that donation, the City was responsible for approximately $21,000.