Coast Guard open house kicks off Safe Boating Week

The U.S. Coastguard and local public safety organizations attended Saturday’s inaugural Safe Boating Week Kickoff and Coast Guard open house. Approximately 2,500 local residents, tourists, boaters and students interested in serving in the Coast Guard enjoyed a fun way for the Coast Guard and their partners to engage with the local boating community for National Safe Boating Week May 18-24.

The agencies and units who participated include:

• U.S. Coast Guard
  • Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay: In-water tours of 64-foot Screening Vessel and 33-foot law enforcement vessel used to escort U.S. Navy Ballistic Missile Submarine into and out of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Sea Dragon: In-water tour of 87-foot coastal patrol boat also used to escort SSBNs.
  • Station Mayport: In-water tours of 45-foot response boat-medium used for offshore search and rescue, law enforcement boardings and port security escorts.
  • Maritime Safety and Security Team Kings Bay: Trailered 29-foot response boat-small used for nationwide maritime security operations, mobile response kit trailer used to respond to hurricanes and coastal flooding and explosives detection K9 Jenny.
  • Air Station Savannah: Helicopter rescue swimmer demonstration over the Amelia River.
  • Aids to Navigation Team Jacksonville Beach: Trailered 26-foot aids to navigation boat used to service small buoys that designate channels and other warnings across our region.
  • Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Jacksonville.
  • Recruiting Office, Jacksonville.
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14-1 from Fernandina Beach: Volunteers and trailered auxiliary patrol vessel.
• Fernandina Beach Police Department community engagement officer and patrol officers.
• Fernandina Beach Fire Department, Engine 1, Rescue 1, and trailered Ocean Rescue jet ski.
• Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit: In-water patrol vessel and trailered airboat for search and rescue in marshes, swamps and other very shallow waters.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Trailered 22-foot patrol vessel.

“Saturday’s inaugural event showcased the variety of exciting missions the men and women of the Coast Guard engage in daily. Nearly every Coast Guard unit in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia was represented, including our volunteer auxiliarists from Flotilla 14-1,” said Lieutenant Commander Hunter Warren, operations officer, Maritime Force Protection Unit, Kings Bay. “ We would like to extend a special thanks to the dedicated professionals of the Fernandina Beach Police Department, Fernandina Beach Fire Department and Ocean Rescue, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for their participation in the event and continued partnership.”

Participants learned about a wide range of Coast Guard missions, including maritime prevention and response, maritime law enforcement and defense operations. They interacted with 30 local Coast Guard members representing a wide range of backgrounds, experience levels and expertise and learned about safe boating practices, how to remain clear of Naval vessel escorts throughout the area and even how to join the service. The Coast Guard is hiring.

“We enjoyed hosting Fernandina Beach Mayor (Bradley) Bean during the helicopter rescue swimmer demonstration and greatly appreciate the widespread support for the event across the entire city government,” said Warren.

The event is planned to return next year on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024.