The Anne Arundel County Fire Department has a new tool at its disposal as the agency placed a 2018 rigid hull inflatable rescue boat into service.
Donned "Boat 23," the vessel is assigned to the Jones Station Fire Station in Severna Park. The boat will be staffed by four people trained as swift water swimmers and who have completed the Mate and Marine Vessel Operator training program.
The boat, a Highfield 21-foot rigid hull inflatable, is powered by a Yamaha 150-horsepower motor. Two top-mounted searchlights, a Hummingbird Solix 12 Chart plotter, and a side scan sonar system will help locate people and craft in low visibility or under the water. The craft can hold 16 passengers.
The department will tow the boat with a trailer to incidents, where it can be launched into any of the county's 533 miles of coastline, the fire department said.
