According to a report from PittsburghPA.gov, Pittsburgh (PA) Public Safety is pleased to announce a welcome addition to its River Rescue unit with the launch of a new paramedic and police rescue boat.
With 264 calls for service on the region’s rivers in 2020, River Rescue’s life-saving reach will expand even further with the new boat’s state-of-the-art capabilities.
“The advanced technology that the newest of the city’s River Rescue craft provides will give police officers and EMS personnel the best chance of helping anyone who experiences an emergency on our three rivers. Special thanks to Mayor Peduto, Council, the city’s Equipment Leasing Authority, and the dedicated group of police officers and paramedic/divers for their work over the past 18 months to make this day a reality,” said Public Safety Director, Wendell Hissrich.
Manufactured by Lake Assault in Superior, Wisconsin, the new boat will become the primary rescue vessel for River Rescue, in addition to the Sea Ark boat that is currently in service.
It’s equipped with two V8 Yamaha 425 outboard motors, as well as several new or enhanced features such as: increased fire suppression capabilities, improved lighting, a windless anchor, docking assist for intricate maneuvering, and built-in sonar to provide more accurate search capability on the water.
Inside the cabin, forward and backward-trained cameras allow the operator to be more aware of what is happening on the deck and around the boat while maintaining navigation on the water.
EMS Division Chief Richard Linn, Operations Chief for River Rescue says the new craft was constructed with the specific safety needs of the City and first responders in mind.
“Pittsburgh River Rescue is comprised of men and women from the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Bureau of Police who have received extensive training to keep everyone safe on our three rivers. This boat was designed by these professionals.”
Some other key features include a bow gate which can be lowered to allow for more accessible shoreline work, such as loading and unloading equipment or personnel and built-in, improved FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) for full night vision. The boat’s catamaran hull also provides more stability on the water.
“Our three rivers are one of the defining assets of the City of Pittsburgh. We are proud of our River Rescue team that brings together experts from the EMS and Police bureaus to ensure safety on our rivers is a priority. This team have been leaders throughout the state in setting standards for river safety and rescue and now they have a state-of-the-art boat equipped with the latest technologies to respond to all emergencies,” said Mayor William Peduto.
