The newest addition to the Claxton fleet, Marine 74, is ready to get into local waters fast, the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post June 11.
In 2023, 22-year-old Robert Blanchard drowned in Melton Lake. Blanchard was the grandson of Ralph Honeycutt, who was a longtime member of the volunteer fire department, wvlt.tv reported.
Since that drowning, the fire department decided to get a boat instead of borrowing one or relying on other agencies, the report said.
“Designed for rescue and recovery, M-74 can be carried by hand over rough terrain to a launch point if necessary and will float in just inches of water,” the Facebook post said. “It can go places other boats cannot.”
M-74 has 360-degree sonar so operators can locate underwater objects in real-time. This means that, in the right conditions, rescue divers can go directly to a victim, eliminating hours of searching. The retractable, in-water platform allows divers and swimmers quick access to the boat with a victim.
This makes M-74 ideal for all types of rescue scenarios, including surface rescue, flooding, boating accidents, and dive operations.
Expect to see Marine 74 out on the waters this season as the Dive Team and Boat personnel conduct training operations.
