Marina Dock Age

Twin Dolphin Marina, a 225-slip marina located approximately seven miles east of the Gulf of Mexico along the Manatee River in Bradenton, Fla., is just one of several Florida marinas that are offering safe harbor to boat owners in the Gulf states and panhandle of Florida who are concerned that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could harm their vessels, according to a June 24 press release from the marina.

Twin Dolphin Marina has agreed to waive its long-term lease commitments and offer affected boaters month-to-month rates for dockage as long as the oil slick remains a threat to the Gulf shore.  “We are here to help our fellow boaters in these sensitive areas that have been affected by this unfortunate accident,” said Michael Shanley, the marina’s harbormaster.

The marina currently has room for up to 50 boats, including a couple of slips for boats up to 85 feet long. At press deadline, Shanley said the marina has received a few calls from boaters inquiring about rates and slip sizes.

When asked if boats would be decontaminated of any oil remnants prior to entering the marina’s slips, Shanley indicated they would. He added that the decontamination process is one that he has worked out with the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection.

In addition to Twin Dolphin, Loggerhead Club and Marina, which owns and operates 12 marinas throughout Florida, is opening its facilities to boaters seeking refuge from the oil spill. For example, Loggerhead Marina in Riviera Beach, a dry storage facility that can hold up to 300 boats, is offering to store boats in its facility without signing a long-term lease. Boaters can pay a deposit of $500 to guarantee themselves a slip at the marina’s dry storage facility for the next six months.

Two other examples of marinas offering space are Harborage Marina in St. Petersburg and Fort Myers Yacht Basin in Fort Myers. At press deadline, it was reported that the downtown Fort Myers Yacht Basin has stored four large boats for captains and boat owners who were anticipating the oil spill.

Harborage Marina has begun taking in boats and yachts up to 125 feet. “We had one owner send his 125-foot megayacht, 70-foot sport fisherman and 44-foot speedboat/tender here to get clear of the situation from the oil spill,” said Kirby Scheimann, marina manager.