When the new New York City fireboat 343 arrived in New York harbor yesterday, one of the fleet greeting her was the fireboat John J. Harvey.  (Will has some great photos and commentary the tugster blog.)   I am struck by the parallels between the two boats.

The John J. Harvey was named for a fireboat pilot who died in an a explosion while fighting a fire on the German Lloyd Lines ship Muenchen at North River Pier 42 in 1930.  The fireboat 343 is named in honor of the firefighters lost in the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11/01.    The John J. Harvey was the largest and most powerful fireboat in the world when built, a honor that can now be claimed by the 343.    Both boats will also forever be tied the events of 9/11.  The John J. Harvey, though retired as a City of New York fireboat, was the first fireboat on scene at the World trade Center on 9/11.  Because water main onshore had been destroyed, the John J. Harvey pumped water ashore to firefighters on scene.  She  pumped non-stop for four days.

FDNY Fireboat 343 Launching Sept 11, 2009 – Eastern Shipbuilding Group