Metal Shark, which builds aluminum- and steel-hulled boats for commercial and military use, has been selected to manufacturer fire rescue boats for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department.
The Metal Shark 50 Defiant X has been chosen for the project. It’s a welded aluminum monohull with a specialized arrangement for firefighting. The boats are being built at Metal Shark’s Jeanerette, La., facility and will replace older vessels currently in the Miami-Dade fleet.
The boats are 50 feet long with a 15-foot beam and are powered by twin diesel jet drives. Projected top speed is more than 51 mph and when the boat slows to a cruise of about 34 mph, the 50 Defiant X is expected to have a range of approximately 250 nautical miles.
Noteworthy features on the boat include a “Pillarless Glass” pilothouse that offers improved visibility from the wheelhouse. The 50 Defiant X has a reverse-raked windshield with overhead skylights to provide upward visibility when pulling alongside moving ships or elevated structures or keeping aircraft in view.
“We were impressed at every turn with the diligence and the professionalism of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s leadership, and especially their unwavering commitment to the safety of their firefighters,” Chris Allard, Metal Shark CEO, in a statement.
Dean Jones, Metal Shark’s vice president of sales for fire, law enforcement and specialty markets, said the company is expanding its presence in the fire-boat market, adding nearly 10 new customers.
