TAMPA, Fla. — As the Tampa Bay area enters into another boating season, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has launched Operation Safe Waters.
“We're going to be out there in full force,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
The sheriff says as the population continues to grow in our region, so does the number of boaters and the number of distress calls his marine unit is responding to.
“We are the only 24 /7 marine unit in the Tampa Bay region," Chronister said. “We respond 24 hours a day, rain or shine, day or night.”
So, as the boating season ramps up, the sheriff’s office is unveiling a pair of new vessels called Safe Boats.
Each is about 38 feet long and capable of reaching about 60 miles per hour. They are designed from mast to waterline to save lives.
“These boats are designed for that rough water. These boats are designed to be more agile in the water,” the sheriff said. “They are designed for life-saving capability.”
High-tech features include infrared heat imaging to spot people in the water, sonar, radar, GPS locators and portable BUI machines to check boaters’ blood alcohol levels on the spot.
Low-tech upgrades include boat fenders that make it easier and safer to bump up against other vessels, saving time. There are also easy access ramps near the bow so people can quickly climb aboard in emergency situations.
Each boat is also lined with ropes that several people can cling to during a mass rescue.
“I've been there and had a lot of people in the water,” HCSO Marine Unit’s Sgt. Ryan Balserio said. “And you pull up in a regular boat you're trying to grab one at a time but the whole time you're getting person one, two and three - you're worried about 8, 9 and 10.”
About two years ago, Chronister himself was involved in a marine rescue that involved a sinking vessel and 11 people, some of whom could not swim. He says the incident showed him where improvements could be made.
“Life-changing, life-saving boats these new acquisitions are,” he said.
The sheriff says now with three safe boats He's confident that they can respond anywhere any time.
But he says they will continue to keep an eye on the number of people out on the water, and the number of rescues they have to perform.
“If we see that continue to increase, we may have to go back to the legislature or back to the county commission and say we can justify a need that we need another vessel, that's not the case right now,” Chronister explained.
Hillsborough County received its first Safe Boat a little over a year ago thanks to a grant from the state legislature.
The two newest vessels were both purchased by county taxpayers for a total of about $1.7 million.