St. Petersburg, Fla. – For more than five decades, Eckerd College students have volunteered their time to assist boaters in distress across the Tampa Bay area. This fall, the college’s Search and Rescue team (EC‑SAR) secured a $364,000 state grant that will fund new engines, dock upgrades and other critical equipment.
Volunteer team with a long tradition
Founded in 1971, EC‑SAR now includes 64 student volunteers from majors ranging from marine science and animal studies to political science. The students receive no pay or class credit; they serve out of a sense of duty and a desire to protect their community.
Working side‑by‑side with the U.S. Coast Guard, local fire departments and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the team responds to roughly 400 distress calls each year. Calls range from routine fuel transfers and boat assists to full‑scale water rescues, searches, boat fires and sinking vessels. The team has also begun helping with manatee and other wildlife rescues.
How the grant will be used
The state funding is earmarked for several essential upgrades:
- Fuel for the entire operating year
- New engines for multiple rescue boats
- Dock improvements, including new pilings and boat lifts
- Water‑main and electrical system upgrades
Maintenance and Operations Supervisor Leila Koenig said the improvements will reduce the team’s reliance on private fundraising and donations, allowing the volunteers to focus on rapid response.
Student voices on the impact
Senior boat driver and watch leader Will Seedorf described the grant as a “game changer.” He explained that newer engines and sturdier dock infrastructure will lessen worries about corrosion and equipment failure, which can delay rescue missions.
“Not always having to worry about, you know… this breaking because of environmental corrosion and things like that,” Seedorf said. “All those sorts of things are things that we have to always think about.”
Looking ahead
The exact timeline for the upgrades is still being finalized, but the work is expected to begin during the current academic year. Once completed, EC‑SAR will be better equipped to serve the Tampa Bay community, maintaining a vital safety net for boaters, anglers and wildlife alike.
The grant underscores the state’s commitment to supporting volunteer‑driven public‑safety initiatives and highlights the important role that college students play in safeguarding Florida’s waterways.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
