At Pacific Maritime Group we love the smell of gunpowder in the air. To us it means a fireworks show. And we love fireworks shows. If you were watching fireworks on the Fourth of July in southern California, chances are you were watching it with us.
For years PMG has been the go-to barge provider for the wonderful Big Bay Boom shows in San Diego. We provide four barges which are loaded with arrays of rockets and shells. These barges are towed into positions near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, or the Embarcadero. When the time is exactly right, the fireworks operator launches fireworks in a carefully orchestrated and coordinated manner. It makes for a show that is truly extraordinary.
Further up north, the Long Beach branch of PMG is the mother ship for barge shows from Dana Point to Laguna Beach and from Catalina Island to Malibu. This year they supported eleven individual shows. On July Fourth an armada of tugs and barges departed Long Beach to take position and be central to a joyous and safe Independence Day celebration.
Safety is paramount when we talk about fireworks which are composed of gunpowder lift charges, fuses, pyrotechnic metals, and sub-charges. The reason for fireworks shows being on the water is for the safety of observers and pyrotechnic crews as well as the undeniable beauty of a reflective body of water. At PMG we work with the USCG plus numerous Fire Marshals and Fire Chiefs to ensure that our barge shows are safe. The fireworks operators are licensed by the State of California and adhere to strict procedures.
The fireworks themselves look plain and unassuming. They are the orbs you see in brown paper. They get placed in tubes to direct the rocket skyward. The paper strings you see are wired to electric firing pins. The days of running around with a lighter are long past. All fireworks are launched remotely through an electric motherboard.
At PMG we take the barge and its array to the site of the show. This might be a beach off Laguna, or a quiet pool near Pacific Palisades. It is our pleasure and honor to bring a show to you. Hope you had a happy Fourth.