County Sheriff’s latest emergency ship officially christened
Marine 41, the latest custom-made addition to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s East End Marine Task Force, officially entered into service in a christening ceremony in Hampton Bays Thursday.
“We’re here today to christen Marine 41, but also to celebrate our success as a group with a mission to ensure secure passage and safety throughout Long Island’s beautiful East End waterways,” said Sheriff Vincent DeMarco at the ceremony at the Shinnecock U.S. Coast Guard station.
The vessel, which is designed to respond to chemical, biological weapon, nuclear and explosive scenarios, was purchased through a $1.2 million federal grant and has already started serving East End waterways. In July, the ship was used in an operation to detonate forgotten 1940s-era ordnance that had been uncovered by Superstorm Sandy on Gardiners Point Island.
Marine 41 was most recently used during a search and rescue mission on July 24 to help locate lost fisherman, John Aldridge, who was found after an extensive search about 43 miles off the coast of Montauk clinging to a buoy.
Mr. Aldridge and his family were in attendance Thursday as the Coast Guard was honored for their role in his rescue.
The ship will operate in East End waterways throughout the year, and is equiped with state-of-the-art infrared cameras, side scan sonar, emergency medical equipment and more.
