The Mystic Connecticut fireboat Joseph B. Herman II was paid for with funds from the Port Security Grant Program, a special fund to combat terrorism.
Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the US Federal government began issuing generous grants to regional police, fire and other emergency handling agencies, to pay for infrastructure that could be used to combat a terrorist attack.
[1] In September 2012, once crews had been trained, the fire department renamed the vessel the Joseph B. Herman II.
She is powered by a pair 425 horsepower (317 kW) diesel engine.
Her pumps can project 2,000 gallons per minute through her three water cannons.