Why do boats spray water in or into the air?

Question

Often time boats in the New York Harbor will spray multiple streams of water into the air as a fountain.

I have learned through googling that this practice is done by tug boats, and often as a form of "fireworks" when a military ship comes back to port.

My questions are:

1. Can you collaborate, correct, and/or add to what I've found?

2. Why do they do this and/or what is the history?

3. Why do tug boats have this capability, is it a firefighting capability?

4. Do they do it for any other reason.

Thanks.

Answer 1

They are fire boats - the whole point is for firefighting purposes.

Answer 2

Tugboats often have this capability.  They may act as fireboats, since they're often around on the waterfront, and may be the first one on the scene of a boat fire.  Some major cities have fireboats also, but they may not be in the area when a fire breaks out.  It's expensive to keep a boat and crew patrolling the waterfront, just in case.

They also do this as a salute.  It might be for holidays, or when a dignitary of some sort or a famous ship visits, or for festivals, etc.

Answer 3

actually those are fire boats. The do it for various reasons, one, to check the equipment, two, to "salute" certain other vessels, three at special events just to please the crowd, or 4, to actually fight ship board or water front fires.

Answer 4

those are excellent questions. but idk the answer.

Answer 5

if you mean like speedboats, it is because they use the water in the lake/ocean to cool the engine...

fire boats do this for fire fighting, and it's ALOT more water than a standard boat...

Answer 6

to go faster

Answer 7

Fire boats.

Answer 8

yes its pretty that is why they do it, I suppose fire boats are also tug boats in case they have to tow a burning boat away from the docks to stop the fire from spreading

Answer 9

idk..but waverunners do this.