Pittsburgh officials showboat new River Rescue vessel

Pittsburgh city and public safety officials unveiled a new River Rescue boat Wednesday, one equipped with advanced lifesaving equipment and a sonar system for searching underwater.

The advanced capabilities mean that River Rescue personnel — trained dive paramedics and police — will be more equipped not only to get people out of the three rivers, but begin to treat them right there if necessary.

“This takes us to another level,” said police Chief Scott Schubert. “We’ve got the three rivers. A lot of times we take for granted the things that could happen on the waterways.”

The vessel, manufactured in Wisconsin by Lake Assault, has two V8 Yamaha 425 outboard motors and a slew of features that officials say will make the rivers safer: better lighting, built-in sonar, a bow gate for loading equipment, and improved infrared for better night vision.

Shiny new River Rescue boat made its debut today (complete with inadvertent walk-up music from PNC Park) pic.twitter.com/yRJe4qFeeI

— Megan Guza (@meganguzaTrib) May 12, 2021

EMS Division Chief Richard Linn said the craft was designed with the city’s unique water rescue needs in mind. River Rescue is staffed around the clock with two specially trained police officers and two paramedic divers who must complete 700 hours of training.

“This boat was designed by these professionals,” said Linn, who is also operations chief for River Rescue.

How it started. How it’s going. pic.twitter.com/kyrFrIPMPf

— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) May 12, 2021

Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said River Rescue responded to 264 calls in 2020, and that’s even amid the pandemic, which kept many people indoors and off the water. He said the new technology gives first responders the best chance of helping anyone in distress on the water.

Hissrich also noted that the city’s River Rescue unit is often called to assist neighboring municipalities as well.

The new watercraft joins the Sea Ark boat the unit has been using for years, and it will become the primary boat used for River Rescue operations.