b'future training opportunities, and tips and pointers oncrew through fire corridors and normal means of egress. donningself-containedbreathingapparatuses(SCBA).We kind of came to an agreement that if we could get Afterthis,thevesselcaptaingavethefiredepartmenta the asset to the dock and get the people off, then they [the fulltourofthevesselincludingengineeringspaces.They local fire department] would continue to fight the fire, explained the fixed firefighting systems that are in placeMcGuire said. andhowthecrewaboardavesselfightsafireversushowa land-based fire department fights a blaze. The drill wasThe team also does abandon ship drills on a regular basis. also an opportunity for the Bridgeport & Port JeffersonThevesselsareequippedwithlifeboats,andthestairtow-Steamboat Company to share their fire safety plans withers are A60 protected to get people off the ferries safely. the fire department.These repeated exercises help prepare the crew to respond efficientlyandeffectivelyintheeventofacasualtywhenThe trip between Port Jefferson in Long Island, N.Y., andpassengers may panic. A calm and quick response by the Bridgeport,Conn.,isaboutanhourandtenminutes;crew can set the tone for others onboard, hopefully quell-therefore,thefurthestavesselwouldbefromadockis45 ingsomeofthealarmamongpassengerstohelpgetevery-minutes. If there would be a fire on board, the hope is thatone to safety as fast as possible. In addition, the team has onboard systems such as sprinklers and fire hoses woulddonedrillswithlocallawenforcementthatinvolveboard-allowthecrewtocontrolthefirelongenoughforthevessel ingsandpracticedresponsestoactiveshootersituations.to reach a dock and for all people to get off the boat safely. Savinglivesisthetoppriorityinsuchasituationandthe The drill held this June with the local fire department is team hopes theyd be able to disembark passengers andsomethingtheBridgeport&PortJeffersonSteamboat 27 AUGUST 2025'