John J. Harvey facts for kids
Fireboat John J. Harvey
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 New York City Fire Department |
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| Name | John J. Harvey |
| Namesake | John J. Harvey |
| Port of registry | New York City, United States |
| Ordered | 1928 |
| Builder | Todd Shipbuilding |
| Cost | $594,000 |
| Laid down | 1930 |
| Launched | October 6, 1931 |
| Commissioned | December 17, 1931 |
| In service | December 17, 1931 |
| Out of service | 1995 |
| Renamed |
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| Reclassified | Museum ship |
| Refit | 1957 |
| Reinstated | Temporary return to service 9/11/2001 |
| Homeport | North River Pier 66, New York City (As of 2019) |
| Nickname(s) | The "Harvey" |
| Honors and awards |
National Preservation Award |
| Status | FDNY retired |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fireboat |
| Displacement | 268 net tons |
| Length | 130 ft (40 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Installed power | 5 Fairbanks - Morse opposed piston Model 38F5¼ which consist of 8 cylinders with 16 pistons. |
| Propulsion | Twin screws |
| Speed | 18 knots |
| Capacity | 18,000gpm |
| Armament | Eight deck monitors and 24 large connections for fire hose |
 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1931 |
| Built by | Todd Shipyards |
| Architect | Henry J. Gielow |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000576 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 2000 |
The John J. Harvey is a famous fireboat that used to work for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). It's known as one of the strongest fireboats ever made. It can pump an amazing 18,000 gallons of water every minute! This boat became very famous when it helped out after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Contents
A Heroic Fireboat: The John J. Harvey
The John J. Harvey was launched in 1931. It served the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) until 1994. The boat was named after John J. Harvey, a brave marine fireman. He died when a ship exploded during a fire.
Important Fires the Harvey Fought
The John J. Harvey helped fight many big fires on the water.
- In 1932, it helped with a fire at the Cunard Line pier.
- It also helped when the large ship Normandie caught fire in 1942.
- In 1943, it fought a fire on the ammunition ship El Estero.
- The boat was also there in 1966 after two oil tankers, Alva Cape and Texaco Massachusetts, crashed.
Towards the end of its service, its official name was Marine 2.
Saving the Harvey from Being Scrapped
In 1999, the John J. Harvey was sold. A group of people who wanted to save old boats bought it. They didn't want it to be taken apart for scrap metal. They worked hard to fix it up. After its restoration, the boat started offering free trips on the river for the public. In June 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States.
The Harvey on September 11, 2001
After the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the boat's owners offered to help. They asked the FDNY if the John J. Harvey could assist with moving people away from Ground Zero. Firefighters at the site realized that many water pipes were broken. This meant they didn't have enough water to fight the fires.
Returning to Service
Officials radioed the John J. Harvey and asked if its pumps still worked. The owners said yes, and the boat was told to drop off its passengers. It then rushed back to the disaster area. It was officially called Marine 2 again. The John J. Harvey worked alongside two other FDNY fireboats, John D. McKean and Fire Fighter. They pumped water at the site for 80 hours straight. They kept pumping until the city's water pipes were fixed.
Awards and Recognition
The National Trust for Historic Preservation gave the John J. Harvey a special award. This award recognized its amazing help during the September 11 events. The story of the boat's quick response even became a children's book in 2002.
The Harvey's Recent History
In 2018, the John J. Harvey got a new paint job. It was painted in a red and white "dazzle" pattern. This was part of an art project by Tauba Auerbach. The pattern was like the "dazzle camouflage" used on ships during World War I. This camouflage made it hard for enemies to tell what kind of ship it was or which way it was going.
As of 2025, the fireboat is docked at North River Pier 66. This pier is on the Hudson River in New York City. It sits next to the Lightship Frying Pan.
Images for kids
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John J. Harvey painted in red and white as an art project
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John J. Harvey underway near the Statue of Liberty
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See also
In Spanish: John J. Harvey para niños
