EC-SAR

EC-SAR (Eckerd College Search and Rescue) is a student volunteer maritime search and rescue team. EC-SAR provides its services, free of charge to the St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay area of Florida, within 10 miles of its station on the Eckerd College campus. EC-SAR works alongside local EMS services and the United States Coast Guard. For emergency assistance EC-SAR can be contacted on VHF channels 16 and 68, ph. (727) 864-8256, or through Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. Along with providing its services to the community, EC-SAR seeks to better the students by "Education through Service", building leadership and team skills.

History
In 1971 the team was created for the safety of the college's own vessels in the Waterfront Program. By 1977 EC-SAR expanded its services to the Tampa Bay area community. EC-SAR gained national attention in 1980 when it was one of the first agencies to respond to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster.

EC-SAR was rated "Best Student Group" in Florida Leader's "Best of Florida Schools 2003" issue.

Members coordinate the utilization of four rescue boats through an operations/communications center located in the Waterfront Activities building. EC-SAR assists over 300 vessels each year, including:

* Towing * Firefighting * Searching for overdue vessels * Pulling vessels from aground * Dewatering sinking vessels