PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Portland’s fireboat is back in service nearly six weeks after hitting an underwater object in Portland Harbor in an accident that spurred the city to implement a new policy on who’s allowed to use the boat.

City officials said the City Of Portland IV returned to service Tuesday night after undergoing $54,000 in repairs at a Rockland boatyard, about $16,000 more than originally projected.

The boat was damaged during an outing on Oct. 15 with a dozen civilians aboard.

As a result, two firefighters were suspended and city officials implemented new rules limiting when the boat can be used for

City Manager Mark Rees told the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/v9v26Y) the city’s fireboats will longer be used for civilian excursions without his approval.