- This year, during the Port’s annual Take Your Kids to Work Day, participants were asked to help our staff with a special task, the naming of the port’s new Security boat. Port Tampa Bay recently acquired a new security boat to assist with port operations through FEMA Port Security Grant. Port Tampa Bay welcomed 35 students during our annual Take Your Kids to Work Day event, which was held on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Each student had the opportunity to submit a name for consideration.

After the participating children submitted names for the new security vessel, they were compiled and voted on by staff. The winning name, ‘Tammy’ was submitted by Annabella Depin, age 9, the daughter of Nick Depin from the port’s Engineering Department. Depin and his daughter were recently treated to a harbor tour of our maritime community aboard ‘Tammy’ as a thank you for helping to name the boat.

The Port Tampa Bay Security Patrol Boat was partially funded in 2019 by a FEMA Port Security Grant. The Boat is a 36-foot Munson Landing Craft and was built on a high-performance catamaran hull, which allows for enhanced stability during rough sea conditions. Unique to this Patrol vessel is that it comes equipped with a drop-down bow door, capable of landing onto the spoil islands, and migratory nesting areas located in the Tampa Bay Ship Channel.

 

The primary mission of the Port Tampa Bay Security Patrol Boat and crew will consist of:

• Patrolling the waters within Tampa Bay adjacent to PTB berths, docks, and wharves
• Monitoring the Tampa Bay Ship Channel
• Participating as a force multiplier on the water in support of maritime events such as Gasparilla, and the PTB Bayslam Fishing Tournament
• Assisting Federal, State, and local Law Enforcement marine units, as needed
• Enforcing US Coast Guard mandated Maritime Transportation Security Act security regulations