Thomas Willett (fireboat)

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FDNY fireboat Thomas Willett, 1908-07-04.jpg
Thomas Willett, celebrating July 4th, 1908.
History
Flag of the City of New YorkNew York City Fire Department
NameThomas Willett
NamesakeThomas Willett
Port of registryNew York City, United States
BuilderT. S. Marvel Shipbuilding, Newburgh, NY[1]
Yard number185
Completed1908
Out of service1959
Renamed
  • Engine 86
  • Engine 78
  • Marine 5
FateSold, converted to passenger vessel by Circle Line
United StatesUnited States
NameCircle Line XIV
OwnerCircle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Acquired1959
IdentificationUSCG Doc #: 204989
StatusFloating office in Morris Canal Basin, Jersey City
General characteristics
TypeFireboat
Displacement580 net tons
Length123 ft (37 m)
Beam27 ft (8.2 m)
Draught14 ft (4.3 m)
Speed14 knots
Capacity9000 gpm

The Thomas Willett was a fireboat operated by the FDNY.[2] She was launched in 1908 and retired in 1959. She was built as a steam-engine powered vessel with coal-fired boilers. She was converted to oil-fired boilers in 1926.

Operational history[]

On August 14, 1927, a tugboat of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, towing two barges of railway rolling stock, collided with a train of rock barges towed by the .[3] The Thomas Willett responded, when one barge was sunk and others damaged, saving their crew.

Circle Line XIV seen in September 2019.

The FDNY retired Thomas Willett in 1959 and put her up for public sale.[2] She was acquired by Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, who converted here into a tour boat and renamed her Circle Line XIV. As of 2021 she is extant in Morris Canal Basin, Jersey City, used as a floating office by Statue Cruises.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "T. S. Marvel Shipbuilding, Newburgh NY". Shipbuilding History. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Fireboat on block". New York Times. 1959-11-14. p. B42. Retrieved 2017-03-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "20 SAVED AS BARGES ARE RAMMED IN DARK; Nine Craft Cut Adrift by Collision in Bay, One Sinks -- Fireboat Rescues the Crews". New York Times. 1927-08-15. Retrieved 2017-03-24. The crew of the fireboat Thomas F. Willett rescued Captain John Webber, 50 years old, and his wife, Dorothy, from the sinking rock barge Moonstone, which was rammed off the Statue of Liberty early yesterday morning, and eighteen men and women, captains and their wives from eight other barges which were cut adrift but were undamaged.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "CIRCLE LINE XIV". ShipSpotting. Retrieved 22 April 2021.

Coordinates: 40°42′40″N 74°03′02″W / 40.711020°N 74.050684°W / 40.711020; -74.050684

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