Annapolis Operating Policy Manual Chapter 7: Operations

7.33 Marine Operations Issued: 10/05/2018 Revised:

Approved by: David L. Stokes, Sr.

7.33.1 Scope

The Annapolis Fire Department operates two (2) distinctly different marine vessels. 36 is a 36-foot Metal Craft Marine Fireboat. Boat 37 is an 18-foot Rigid Haul Inflatable boat. The majority of the procedures in this policy only apply to the operation of the more complex Fireboat 36.

7.33.2 Response A. Fireboat 36 (FB-36) 1. Engine 36's crew shall be the primary unit responsible for staffing FB-36. When responding from quarters, the crew shall respond with U-36 to the fireboat’s berth.

2. In the event Engine 36 is not in quarters and is dispatched for a response involving the fireboat, Engine 36 shall respond with the Engine.

3. If the Engine responds to the Fireboat in sub-freezing weather, the officer shall immediately notify the On- Duty (Battalion) Officer. This is because in frigid weather, the pump and other components can be damaged by freezing. The Duty Officer shall make arrangements to have the Engine transported back to Station 36 and replaced with a Utility Vehicle.

B. Boat 37

1. Truck 39’s crew shall be the primary unit responsible for responding with Boat 37 using U-37 or another available Utility vehicle capable of safely towing the boat.

2. The trailer and Utility vehicle shall be moved from the boat ramp area and secured after launching the boat.

7.33.3 Staffing A. Fireboat 36 1. Fireboat 36 shall be staffed with a minimum of three (3) personnel with the following qualifications: a. A rated officer or acting officer possessing the minimum qualification as a Crew Member. b. A qualified Motor Vessel Operator. (Fireboat Operator) c. A qualified Crew Member.

B. Boat 37

1. Boat 37 shall be staffed with a minimum of three (3) personnel that have been trained to operate and transport the boat and trailer. The crew shall have the following qualifications (depending on position):

a. Maryland Safe Boaters Course (Fireboat Operator and OIC).

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b. Taylor Ave Safe Boater Operation Training (3 hours) (Fireboat Operator).

c. Operator trained in trailering and launching the boat (Utility Driver).

c. Crew member must have the ability to swim (All personnel).

7.33.4 Fireboat 36 Officer The Fireboat 36 Officer shall be appointed by the Deputy Chief of Operations and shall report to the of Special Operations and be responsible for the following:

A. Managing the Fireboat budget.

B. Coordinate boat training with the Training Officer.

C. Attend meetings with other organizations and/or agencies to coordinate operations, training and other related concerns.

D. Develop and revise as necessary Fireboat 36 and Boat 37 operational procedures.

E. Coordinate regular preventive maintenance and cleaning of Fireboat 36 with crews on all shifts.

F. Coordinate maintenance, training, operations and other related concerns.

G. Maintain Preventive maintenance and other records.

7.33.5 General Fireboat 36 Crew Duties A. Fireboat crews shall proceed to the fireboat berth and conduct Preventive maintenance checks as soon as practical every shift.

B. Preventive maintenance checks shall be thoroughly completed according to the Preventive maintenance check sheet.

C. A thorough inspection of the Fireboat, its lift or other mooring and the area surrounding it shall be conducted as part of the Preventive maintenance check.

D. All activities involving Fireboat 36 shall be recorded in the Fireboat 36 Log Book. Entries into the log shall include but not be limited to the following: 1. Personnel assigned each shift. 2. All incidents, emergency and non-emergency, that the fireboat responds to, including incident time, location, nature of incident etc. 3. Preventive maintenance checks including any defects, broken or missing equipment, fueling information etc. 4. Training activities.

E. During periods of inclement weather or storms the Fireboat crew shall check on the Fireboat at a minimum once every four (4) hours.

7.33.6 Fireboat 36 and Boat 37 Maintenance A. Whenever maintenance and/or repair of either boat is required, the officer assigned to the Fireboat or the Officer on Truck 39 shall complete a repair request form in IWORQS.

B. In the event a repair renders the boat out of service or presents a significant safety hazard, the assigned officer shall activate the appropriate status on the fire radio and immediately notify Fire Alarm and the Duty Officer. Section 7.33 Page 2 of 6

C. All minor repairs completed by station personnel shall be logged and reported to the Fireboat Officer or Truck 39 Officer.

D. Salt water shall be thoroughly rinsed off the boats and any tools and equipment upon return to the Fireboat’s berth or Station 39. Once equipment is rinsed it should be lubricated with water displacement spray e.g., WD- 40, where appropriate, before it is stowed.

7.33.7 Boat Safety A. The officer assigned to the boat shall be responsible for the safety of the assigned crew at all times.

B. All personnel assigned to the Fireboat shall be responsible for their own safety and to be vigilant about the safety of others.

C. All personnel shall wear an approved personal floatation device (PFD) while on board any boat and while on any dock or water’s edge. The only exception to this policy is outlined under Emergency Operations, PPE for Fire Suppression Activities for Fireboat 36.

D. Personnel on Fireboat 36 that are engaged in marine activities, where they enter an atmosphere that presents an Immediate Danger to Life or Health (IDLH), must follow IDLH procedures as delineated in the FDM including the establishment of a rapid intervention crew.

1. Note: The crew on Boat 37 is not required to carry turn-out gear when operating the boat.

2. The crew of Boat 37 should be cognizant of the construction features (rubber) of the Rigid Haul Boat and the impact of radiant heat conditions will have on the structural integrity of the boat when operating near fire conditions.

E. Firefighting crews shall wear complete personal protective equipment (PPE) including SCBA while engaged in firefighting activities.

F. In the event a MOB (Man Overboard) should occur involving one or more of the , the Fireboat Operator shall immediately disengage the boat propulsion or drive systems. The remaining crew shall immediately begin MOB operations.

G. Boat 37 has a supply of Marine Dry Suits which are stored in the Taylor Avenue Fire Station. The Fireboat Officer shall ensure each member of the boat crew is equipped with a Marine Dry Suit before responding with the boat.

7.33.8 Radio Designation A. Fireboat 36 fire radio designation shall be “Fireboat 36," the marine VHF radio designation shall be “Annapolis Fireboat 36-36." B. Boat 37 has a portable radio securely mounted to the boat and is designed as “Boat 37”.

7.33.9 Reporting an Incident to Fire Alarm In the event an AFD boat receives a request from a source other than Fire Alarm for a response, that request shall be immediately forwarded to Fire Alarm with the following information:

A. The location of the incident.

B. The type of incident with as many specifics as possible.

C. Callback/origination information i.e., U.S.C.G., VHF Radio, MNRP, etc.

7.33.10

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Emergency Operations (Fireboat 36) A. The officer assigned to Fireboat 36 shall notify the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Maryland, as soon as possible whenever responding to a marine emergency, via the VHF radio or through Fire Alarm if necessary. This notification shall include the following information as a minimum: 1. The fireboat’s VHF radio designation (Annapolis Fireboat 36-36). 2. The location of the reported incident. 3. The nature of the incident. 4. Your estimated time of arrival (ETA). 5. Your current location. 6. Number of crew aboard the fireboat.

B. Fireboat 36 PPE for Fire Suppression Activities - In the event the fireboat is dispatched to a fire incident the following procedures shall be utilized:

1. All personnel shall wear an approved PFD as dictated in the Safety section. 2. Upon arrival at the scene where firefighting operations are to ensue, crew members assigned to be directly involved in firefighting activities shall: d. Remove their PFD and don the appropriate level of firefighting PPE. e. Attach a short tether to the upper harness ring of their SCBA and secure the other end of the tether to an anchor point on the Fireboat to allow for a rapid recovery should a Man Over Board (MOB) situation occur. f. In the event a MOB should occur involving one or more of the tethered firefighters, the Fireboat Operator shall immediately disengage the Fireboat propulsion propellers. The remaining crew shall immediately begin MOB operations. g. Once fire suppression activities have been concluded, all personnel affected shall remove firefighting PPE and immediately don a PFD. (Note: Man Overboard, MOB, is the commonly use maritime vernacular for a person overboard and should not be construed as being gender biased). 3. The Fireboat crew shall, whenever practical to do so, utilize foam to extinguish marine fires. In the event foam is not a practical choice, every reasonable attempt shall be made to avoid sinking the fire vessel. 4. The Fireboat Operator shall not exceed the posted speed limit when responding to emergencies unless the immediacy of the incident has a human life in the balance and exceeding the speed limit will make the difference between life and death. In any event, the Fireboat Operator shall be responsible for the Fireboat’s wake and any damage it causes. 5. The Fireboat emergency lights shall be activated during emergency incidents unless their activation presents a visibility problem for the fireboat or other vessels operating on the incident. 6. The assigned officer and crew shall utilize the Incident Management System when operating on emergency incidents. 7.33.11 Vessel Towing (Fireboat 36) A. Towing of disabled vessels is not within the scope of the Annapolis Fire Department’s mission and will not be standard practice. There are several commercial towing firms in the immediate area having contracted with the State to provide these services for mariners. The following measures shall be taken if the fireboat happens upon or is dispatched to a disabled or grounded vessel. 1. Instruct all passengers in the affected vessel to don PFDs. 2. If the occupants or the vessel are in imminent danger, the Fireboat crew shall take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the occupants and the environment, i.e., towing from rocks, assisting with taking on

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water, moving from dangerous seas, preventing vessel from entering shipping channels, etc. The vessel shall then be moved to an area of relative safety and secured. 3. Once removed from danger with the vessel secured, Fireboat crews may assist with contacting commercial tow operators (VHF channel 10) if no emergency remains and if requested to do so by the vessel’s captain. 4. In any event, the U.S. Coast Guard and/or the Maryland Natural Resources Police shall be notified of the situation. 5. If the vessel is disabled and adrift, Fireboat crews may assist with securing the vessel (anchoring, jump-start etc.) to prevent the vessel and occupants from becoming distressed. Fireboat crews may assist by contacting a commercial tow operator (VHF channel 10) if requested to do so by the vessel’s Captain. 6. Towing is contraindicated for simple mechanical breakdowns, grounding on sandbars and other minor disabling occurrences where safety is not compromised.

7.33.12 Navigation Rules Boat operators (Fireboat 36 and Boat 37) shall at all times adhere to the rules of navigation as promulgated in the U.S. Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard Navigation Rules, and Inland Rules. The Fireboat Officer shall maintain a current copy at the Eastport Station and the Taylor Avenue Station.

7.33.13 Severe Weather Operations (High wind or ice conditions) General Guidelines – These guidelines are intended to provide basic guidance to Fireboat Officers and the Duty Officer when to limit boat responses due to weather or ice conditions. It is difficult to write a policy to cover every situation that crews may encounter. However, the decision to operate Fireboat 36 or Boat 37 under high wind (seas) or ice conditions must be based primary on the safety of the crew, the limitations of the boat and the safety of the boat. The decision to operate under ice conditions is based on the limitations of the boat. The following are actions to be taken in high winds or waves:

A. Winds 0 to 17 knots, waves less than 4 feet - No restrictions. The Fireboat Operator has the option to decide if conditions are unsafe for response. Fire Alarm shall be immediately notified in the event the Fireboat is unable to respond due to unsafe sea conditions.

B. Winds 18 to 33 knots, waves 8 feet in height or Small Craft Advisory issued by the National Weather Service - Vessels under 25 feet shall not be utilized (Fireboat 36 is 36 feet in length). Vessels 25 feet in length or greater will respond to emergencies only. The Fireboat Operator has the option to decide that conditions are unsafe for response. Fire Alarm shall be notified immediately in the event the Fireboat is unable to respond due to unsafe sea conditions.

C. Winds 33 knots or higher or waves 8 feet or higher or Gale Warning issued by the National Weather Service - Fireboat 36 shall not respond to emergencies unless approved by the Battalion Officer after consultation with the Boat Officer and Operator. Fire Alarm shall be notified immediately in the event the Fireboat is unable to respond due to unsafe sea conditions.

D. Reduced visibility - In the event visibility is reduced to one half mile due to rain, snow, fog or other atmospheric conditions, the fireboat shall utilize radar and GPS instruments while under way and adhere to the following: 1. Make way at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing conditions. 2. Maintain a visual and radar lookout at all times. 3. Sound proper signals whether making way, not making way or anchored (in addition to the when responding). 4. Ensure that side lights, stern lights and masthead lights, (in addition to emergency lights while on emergencies), are illuminated at all times.

E. Worsening Conditions - When already committed to a response and sea conditions change to exceed the Section 7.33 Page 5 of 6

criteria established for the Fireboat to respond within, the Fireboat shall immediately abort the response and seek the nearest safe harbor. When a response has been aborted, the officer assigned shall be responsible to contact Fire Alarm every ten minutes or more often, if necessary, until the Fireboat is in a safe harbor and the crew is safe. When communicating with Fire Alarm under these conditions the following information shall be communicated: 1. The Fireboat’s position; latitude and longitude if possible. 2. The condition of the Fireboat and the crew. 3. The Fireboat’s course and speed.

F. The U.S. Coast Guard shall be contacted and given the same information on the marine VHF radio.

7.33.14 Notification to Maryland Natural Resources Police (MNRP) A. Any time the Fireboat responds to an emergency on the waters of the State of Maryland, the MNRP shall be notified if: 1. An accident results in the death, disappearance or injury of any person. 2. There is property damage in excess of $500.00 or there is a complete loss of the vessel. 3. An accident causing the death or disappearance of any person including anyone that receives medical treatment beyond first-aid.

B. The MNRP is charged by statute to investigate all deaths on the waters of the State of Maryland. No victim shall be moved or transported until a MNRP investigator has been contacted and authorizes the movement. (Chain of custody, possible crime scene, or if the State Medical Examiner needs to inspect the body and/or scene).

C. Depending on the situation, the investigator may direct you to move the body. Should you move the body, document all that is/was seen and found. Remember that you are now in the chain-of-custody and could be summoned to court.

7.33.15 Fueling of A. Fireboat 36 shall use the City Marina as the primary source of acquiring fuel using the annual Blanket PO for the charges. If this is not available, or they are out of the area, they should contact the Quartermaster/Logistics Officer for P Card information to use at another location for fuel.

B. Fireboat 37 has been issued a fuel key for their use, or if that is not available as a backup, they may use the Station spare fuel key, for use at the city fuel pumps located on Spa Road to acquire fuel.

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