***MEDIA ADVISORY***

NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HOLD ITS 4TH ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE MARINE FLEET

Fire Department Officials will be on hand tomorrow as FDNY Chaplain Msgr. Marc Filacchione presides over the 4 th Annual Blessing of the Marine Fleet at the South Street Seaport. For over 130 years fireboats have played a critical role in many emergencies throughout our city’s history.

The boats have assisted in operations at many incidents, including the nine-alarm fire at the St. George Ferry Terminal in 1946 and the 1973 collision of the Sea Witch and the oil tanker Esso Brussels under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge . During the events of September 11 th, and in the days that followed, fireboats were on the scene to pump water and evacuate survivors. They also helped evacuate injured civilians from the Staten Island Ferry Crash in October 2003. The Marine Division is currently comprised of seven ships that protect more than 560 miles of waterfront surrounding New York City .

Note: Procession of the ships will start at the Brooklyn Bridge and pass alongside Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport

GREAT PHOTO OP

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon and David Billig (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny