It was quite a sight yesterday to see the Fireboat John D. McKean arrive at Pier 25. On one of the most beautiful days of the year, there were bagpipers from the FDNY to welcome it on the pier, and its (her?) high-tech cousin, Three Four Three, which is docked at Marine Company 1 in Hudson River Park on the Gansevoort Peninsula, gave a water display as a welcome.

The scene resembled some sort of fireboat mating ritual (which is weird now that I already said they were cousins): the Three Forty Three fired up all its water cannons as it sailed down the middle of the river. The McKean then chugged over towards it and did a 180 in front of the boat — and at one point (see photo above) was perfectly lined up in its shadow with the spray as a backdrop. Then the McKean launched its own water cannons — and at one point snuck over so close to Pier 26 that they doused the folks on the end of the pier, much to the pleasure of the rest of us watching from 25.

It was pure spectacle, and a great way to welcome a historic ship to the neighborhood.

The McKean has no home dock — it’s a bit of a vagabond, said the Village resident who saved it from the scrap heap, Edward Taylor. (He also owns Fish, the restaurant that has been on Bleecker for 24 years, and Farmer and the Fish in Westchester). He purchased it at a city auction four years ago and then converted it into a non-profit. (It was built in 1954 in Camden.)

“We didn’t want to see the boat go into the scrapyard,” Taylor said, “and then you fall in love with an old boat like that.” He hoped it could live in Tarrytown permanently, but some neighbors complained so now it’s just dock surfing. His crew is mostly volunteer firefighters.

He says it is in tip-top shape now, and will be docked at Pier 25 through October. In exchange it should be open to the public for tours; when they have that schedule I’ll post it.

John D. McKean the man was a marine engineer for the FDNY serving on the Fireboat George B. McClellan in 1953 when a live steam explosion on board disabled the boat and fatally injured McKean. He stayed at his post despite his injuries, trying to keep the vessel under control. He died five days later.

When the new fireboat was ready the following year, it was christened the John D. McKean by mayor Robert Wagner’s wife in the shipyard and sailed into New York Harbor in the fall of 1954. McKean’s son, grandson and great-grandson have all served in the FDNY.

The boat went on to have some notable moments in service to the city: it helped pull in Sully’s airplane, rescued firefighters in 9/11, and was involved in the Staten Island terminal fire. So it’s just as well Tarrytown was grumpy about receiving her.

“The boat should be in New York — it’s a piece of New York history,” Taylor said. “And in the winter or fall we will go back up the river.”