One of Nassau County's new marine patrol boats skims through the water. | Nassau County Sheriff's Office
Published on May 21, 2026 at 11:44 am
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The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit has added two new patrol boats in time for Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start to Florida’s boating season.
With many miles of waterways and an rising number of boaters, the Sheriff’s Office said it is critical to have resources to keep the community safe.
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The 31-foot Silver Ships Ambar 800 and 35-foot Ambar 950 have hose guns on their bows to help battle marine fires, as well as bumpers in front and sides to help push other vessels and prevent damage when pulling alongside. The larger boat has an enclosed cabin.
Patrol boat rescue
The boats are already showing the ability to help deputies respond to emergencies faster and operate more efficiently, says Marine Unit Detective Ken Clements.
“I think it’s great that we were able to get some vessels that can do a lot of things, and do a lot of things safely,” Clements said. “We’ve done a lot of rescues in the past. We’ve been out in a lot of conditions in some older fiberglass boats, and while they got the job done, they beat us up pretty good in doing so.”
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The new boats, obtained through the Port Security Grant Program, were used May 2 to rescue two boaters from a sinking ship near Fort Clinch during rough weather.
RELATED: Jacksonville leaders promote boating safety as accidents rise statewide
The Sheriff’s Office’s marine unit received a Mayday call from the ship after it hit the jetties in the St. Marys River entrance channel. Within 15 minutes of hearing the Mayday, the first unit located the heavily damaged vessel as it flooded, causing significant damage and about 3 feet of water in its engine room.
Due to the severity of the flooding, the two people on board were told to abandon ship. A second unit, joined by state marine officers and Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue, got the pair off the ship before it sank, the Sheriff’s Office says.
“It was pretty rough that morning. It was also a lot of low visibility. It was pouring down rain,” Clements said. “These boats allowed us to get on scene faster, and when we did get there, the design of the boats allowed us to go right up beside their boat and get those people off of their boat in a safe manner.”
