Dubbed a "super pumper," the fireboat is capable of pumping more than  16,000 gpm of water or firefighting foam, projected up to 300’. With six fire monitors and 26 manifold valves, the Jensen Maritime-designed vessel is a big step up in power from typical II fireboats, usually equipped with four fire monitors and eight manifold valves and a 10,000 gpm capacity.

The new boat has dual missions. Along with fighting waterfront fires, it is a critical backup in case an earthquake disrupts the city’s water mains. As a mobile pumping station, it can move millions of gallons of water directly from the bay into the city’s auxiliary water system for firefighting in the streets.

Fireboat 3, as it is currently designated, will be christened with a formal name Oct. 17 – also the anniversary of the destructive 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that broke city water mains.

The city’s older fireboats exceed a half-century in age, and despite meticulous maintenance their systems are getting old, Raymond Guzman, deputy chief of administration for the SFFD, said during construction last year.

An array of Cummins engines provide pumping and propulsion power. Three QSK19-M US EPA Tier 3 engines provide 750 hp at 1,800 rpm to Counterfire ESF 300-550 pumps with capacity of 6,000 gpm each – for a total 18,000 gpm of flow with all three engines in pumping mode.

Power is transmitted to the pumps via three Logan LC318 SAE #0 air actuated clutches and Elbe cardan shafts with a Centa Centaflex-R flywheel mounted torsional coupling.

In addition to pumping power, the two outboard engines also provide 591 hp at 1,800 rpm for propulsion off the front of the engines, transmitted through a Centa CX-56 torsional coupling and a Reintjes WAF 364 reduction gear provided by Karl Senner.

Designers gave special attention to noise and vibration reduction, mounting all three engines on Christie & Grey TSC T-10 vibration isolators.

Beachwood Fire Department Chief Patrick Kearns, said the initial cost was actually $1.5 million more, but changes were made to the original plan to cut costs. Kearns felt that almost $10 million was "ridiculous."

Council members told Kearns that they relied on his experience to determine what features would be needed in a new fire station. Once approved, construction could begin as soon as next spring.

Kearns has long been an advocate for the replacement of fire station number two, stating that it was too small and the location was not conducive to a quick response for the growing southern part of the city.