John J. Harvey has published an article marking the 95th year of the retired New York City fireboat and describing its continued public trips on New York Harbor.
René Allen Mack wrote that the vessel was built in 1931, was decommissioned by the New York City Fire Department in 1994 and was then bought out of the scrapyard by a group of private marine enthusiasts for ten dollars more bid.
The boat was restored with private funds and donations and began hosting free public trips on the river for donations.
In June 2000, it was added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.
The fireboat still sails regularly and recently took passengers on a free 90 minute trip around the Battery, moving near the Staten Island Ferry, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The article also recounts the fireboat’s role in New York maritime history and in emergency response.
It welcomed major ocean liners into New York, fought the 1942 Normandie fire and later took part in the September 11, 2001 response.
After the attacks, the U.S. Coast Guard authorized any boat to assist with evacuations from Manhattan and John J. Harvey joined that flotilla.
When water lines and hydrants in Lower Manhattan were damaged or inoperable, the Fire Department of New York asked whether the vessel could still pump water.
For the next 80 hours, the boat and two sisterships pumped water to firetrucks at the World Trade Center, with the FDNY reactivating John J. Harvey as Marine 2 until water mains were restored.
The vessel later received the National Preservation Award, recognition in the Congressional Record and returned to public trips in the harbor.
The article places the vessel at Pier 66 and states it is preparing for Sail250 in 2026.
Gill said: “Pure and simple happiness.
“That is the experience on the boat, and from the shore.
“People just light up when they see the fireboat.”
John J. Harvey is expected to be part of Sail250 in New York Harbor as celebrations mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The vessel continues to operate publicly after restoration and remains active in New York Harbor.
The article links the fireboat’s current public trips with its long service history and its planned presence at Sail250 in 2026.
