b'MEMBER NEWS:Vessels Honor MEMBER NEWSHeroes of Sept. 11T heworkersatEasternShipbuildingThis year, the New York City DepartmentThese ships honor Group (ESG) honor the memories ofof Transportation commissioned the brand the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. On thatnewStatenIslandFerrySSGMichaelH.the heroes of 9/11 day, twenty years ago, the U.S. Coast GuardOllis. Built with the lessons of 9/11 in mind,whom we will and the New York City Fire Department ledand in memory of a soldier who gave his life one of the largest water evacuations in historyto save others. These ships honor the heroesnever forget.helping 500,000 people in Manhattan get toof 9/11 whom we will never forget.safety in the midst of chaos and terror. Their courageandheroismareexamplesforall of us.In the years to follow, ESG has played a small role in response to that tragedy and built two fireboats for the incredible men and women oftheFDNY.Theseboatscommemorate the 9/11 heroes, and symbolize the resolve to always be prepared to answer the call.The first vessel was launched at their Nelson Street Shipyard on Sept. 11, 2009 and is named the Three Forty Three for the 343 firefighters whodiedattheWorldTradeCenter.The name on the bow, was hand-cut by FDNY firemen from World Trade Center steel and welded on the bow.These fireboats are a direct response to the needs the FDNY noted during the weeks after 9/11, and are able to resupply city fire mains intheeventofasimilardisaster,conduct awaterrescuefromadownedaircraft,or remove passengers from a Staten Island Ferry in a crisis.Thevesselsarecapableofpumping50,000 gallons per minute with 11 fire monitors and canachieveaspeedofover20mph.They are firefighting ships inspired by the courage andstrengthofNewYorksfinest.Eastern Shipbuilding was proud to do this job withCredit: Eastern Shipbuilding Groupand for the FDNY.MEMBER NEWS 38 FOGHORN'