New Marco Fire-Rescue Boat Gets Ready

The men and women of the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department have been working diligently over the last 30 days to equip and train their personnel on the new rescue boat that is replacing the current ten-year-old marine craft. Actually, that’s not quite accurate, as they have been working for approximately three years on the overall project. Mechanical problems with one of the engines on the older rescue craft occurred three years ago, and replacing that engine would entail a major refit of the decade-old fire/rescue boat. 

Command staff and personnel reviewed the options available before recommending a new boat that would be financed and trading in the older craft. City councilors approved the proposal at a cost of just over $1.3 million after a review of maintenance costs and what would be required for refitting the old boat with a newer engine, which would be much heavier.  

Department staff recommended a number of enhancements to the new boat after their experience of ten years with the older craft. One of those improvements that is immediately noticeable deals with the enclosure of the crew and patient area which allows for a stable environment for patient care and better protection for our personnel who are often required to travel 20 to 30 miles offshore to the scene of medical emergencies. “Many of these calls involve hypothermia issues. Those lessons have been learned from ten years of experience,” said Captain Dustin Beatty. 

The closest Coast Guard assets to our area and south of Marco lie in Ft. Myers, and the response times from there could involve a very serious delay in providing critical aid to those in serious need of it.  

The new boat will also have fire-suppression capabilities and a 1500GPM capacity pump with pre-piped deck guns mounted fore and aft of the craft that can provide foam capabilities. The boat is also fully equipped for Rescue-EMS to respond to everything from hypothermia to cardiac complications. Captain Beatty estimates they respond to an average of 200 to 300 calls on an annual basis between fire and rescue responses. 

The boat is also equipped with twin 500+H.P. Cummins Diesels with twin jet-drive propulsion, providing a safe work environment while rescue swimmers are in the water assisting boaters in need.  

The department has taken full advantage of the improvements in technology on the craft, especially in the area of search and rescue capacities. Everything from enhanced search capabilities to safety seating for rough water situations. 

The department will soon announce a public viewing day and dedication for their newest addition to their capabilities upon final training and mounting of incoming equipment on the new Marco Marine 50 and encourage the public to take advantage of that event.