Built in 1931, MV John J. Harvey, at 130 ft and 268 net tons, is among the most powerful fireboats ever in service. She has five 600 HP diesel engines, and has capacity to pump 18,000 gallons of water a minute. Her pumps are powerful -- enough so that when she and the George Washington Bridge were both brand new, she shot water over the bridge's roadway. She was retired by the New York City Fire Department in 1994 and bought at auction by her current owners in 1999. She was placed on The National Register of Historic Places in June 2000.
The owners of the Harvey have been working since 1999 to raise awareness of the importance of historic vessels to the history of our City and our nation. They offer trips up the Hudson, public access to NY harbor, training in new skills, and a chance to preserve an important part of our history.
The ship is located at Pier 66 Maritime, North River (as the lower Hudson is properly called), between West 26th and West 27th Streets. This historic ship pier is home to Frying Pan (a National-Register listed light ship) Bertha, an English tug now undergoing restoration, and a variety of small human-powered boating activities. In fact, the pier itself is really a historic Lackawanna railway barge. There is also a wonderful grill with a bar in season.
Pier 66 Maritime is across the Westside Highway between West 26th and West 27th Streets..