New Marine Rescue Facility Open

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County Public Safety Department had a grand opening ceremony and tour of the new Marine Rescue Facility on Monday, Aug. 15 at 2:00 p.m. There was a brief dedication ceremony followed by tours of the building and light refreshments.

The two-story, 8,800 square foot facility at 2651 Gulf Drive South in Bradenton Beach will serve as a headquarters and training station for Manatee County’s lifeguards. The Marine Unit of Manatee Sheriff’s Office will also operate out of the new building. 

The storm-hardened building can withstand 130 mph winds and was built with a number of environment-friendly enhancements, such as: 

• An attic space above offices is fully insulated, creating a conditioned space for air handler units; 
• Low-emissivity glass was used on all doors and glass to improve thermal efficiency; 
• Highly reflective metal was placed on the roof; 
• All pervious parking and drive areas were constructed with shell and brick pavers; 
• LED exterior lighting. 

The facility can accommodate six ATVs, two personal watercraft vessels, two 4 x 4 pickup trucks and MSO watercraft. A shore power connection will enable the building to power an EMS unit. 

Marine Rescue Chief Jay Moyles said the new building is a professional facility that will accommodate the professional lifeguards and law enforcement officers who work there. Florida Fish and Wildlife officials and U.S. Coastguard officials may also use the building as a station to transfer accident victims or criminal suspects from the water to land. 

“We tried to make this as professional a facility as possible to house the agencies that will be working out of it,” Moyles said. “In the past we were literally working out of a bathroom, so this building is a thousand times better than what we called home.” 

The building was designed by Palmetto-based Ugarte and Associates and built by Palmetto-based Zirkelbach Construction. 

For more information on the facility, call Jay Moyles at (941) 744-3956, ext. 8356. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.