The Kevin C. Kane helps celebrate Fleet Week in 2010.
History
New York City Fire Department
NamesakeKevin C. Kane
OwnerNew York City
OperatorNew York City Fire Department
BuilderGladding-Hearn Shipbuilding
FateSold & later converted to a tugboat
General characteristics
Class and typefireboat

The Kevin C. Kane was formerly an FDNY fireboat and is currently being refitted as a long-haul tugboat.[1][2] She was built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts, and delivered on December 8, 1992.[3] She participated in two high-profile events: responding to al Qaeda's attack on the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001; and the rescue of passengers from US Airways Flight 1549, the airliner that landed on the Hudson River in January 2009.[4] She was auctioned off after she incurred damage during Hurricane Sandy. The vessel was named after a firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty.[5]

According to Barbara La Rocca, author of Going Coast New York City, the Kevin C. Kane was the busiest fireboat in the World.[6]

In 2017 her second owner sold her, after not making a real effort to repurpose her, to Mike Cole, owner of Iron Works Construction in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. Cole is adapting the vessel to serve as a tugboat.[2] According to Cole, removing her fire pumps and water cannon reduced her draft by more than a foot, but, during the refit, he plans to add two further decks to her superstructure, to provide accommodation for her crew on long voyages.

In 2018 her third owner relaunched her on June 27, 2018.[7]

References

  1. ^ Brian J. Cudahy (1997). Around Manhattan Island and Other Maritime Tales of New York. Fordham University Press. pp. 95, 114. ISBN 9780823217618. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  2. ^ a b Jon Gast (2017-01-03). "NYC fireboat finds new home in Door Co". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 2017-01-05. The Kane served as a fireboat in the New York City Fire Department for more than 20 years and was an active participant in some of that city's extraordinary events during that span.
  3. ^ "GLADDING-HEARN SHIPBUILDING". ShipbuildingHistory. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Special Report: Fireboats; Then and Now" (PDF). FENA. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2004-09-21. Retrieved 2017-01-05. At the time of the initial attack, the fireboat, Kevin C. Kane, was out of service undergoing repairs. The crew of the Kane quickly placed their boat back in service, and responded to the scene, and joined the other fireboats in fire suppression and rescue operations. The Kane was used to evacuate people from lower Manhattan to safety.
  5. ^ "Kevin C Kane". United States Fire Administration.
  6. ^ Barbara La Rocco (2004). Going Coastal New York City. 58: Going Coastal, Inc. ISBN 9780972980302. Retrieved 2017-01-05. The Fleet of FDNY Marine Co. 6 is berthed there, including the Fireboat Kevin C. Kane, which made more runs than any fireboat in the World.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ^ "VIDEO: Fireboat Kevin C Kane Relaunched in Baileys Harbor". Door County Pulse. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-02. The fireboat Kevin C Kane was relaunched at the Baileys Harbor marina Wednesday, June 27.
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