Boat 12 arrives to support search, rescue, and recovery on Calvert County waterways

Press Release

CALVERT COUNTY, Md. The Calvert County Rescue Dive Team (CCRDT) announces the arrival of Boat 12, a custom-built Stanley Aluminum Boats dive-rescue landing craft that will support search, rescue, and recovery operations on the Chesapeake Bay, Patuxent River, and surrounding waterways.

With 243 miles of shoreline, CCRDT requires reliable access to water for the team’s mission. Boat 12 will help transport trained volunteers and essential equipment to support water-related emergencies and public-safety diving operations.

Doug Coupar, the national Fire Rescue representative for Stanley Aluminum Boats, has worked with CCRDT for more than three years to bring this project to fruition. In his role with Stanley, and as an emergency operations expert dealing with multiple agencies, he says the CCRDT boat is a “cutting-edge vessel for its advanced search and rescue capabilities”.

“From the outset, CCRDT recognized the increased challenges of working on the Bay in wide-ranging weather conditions, with an ever-growing population of boaters during high-season and in the shoulder seasons,” Coupar said.

According to Coupar, Boat 12’s electronics include sonar and night-vision tools to support searches in challenging conditions. Its split-helm design provides a dedicated workstation where an electronics operator can focus on search information while remaining close to the skipper and crew.

The team is actively training on the new vessel to become familiar with its systems, equipment, and specialized capabilities. This preparation will help ensure that crew members can operate Boat 12 safely and effectively during search, rescue, recovery, and other water-related emergencies. The team is also completing the final steps needed to prepare the vessel for operational service. An official in-service date will be announced once training and readiness requirements are complete.

The Calvert County Rescue Dive Team thanks the residents, businesses, community partners, and supporters whose contributions sustain its training, equipment, and readiness. Their continued support helps ensure the team is prepared to serve the whole County when emergencies arise.

About the Calvert County Rescue Dive Team: Established in 1988, the Calvert County Rescue Dive Team is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that serves as part of Calvert County’s 911 emergency response system. The team provides specialized search, rescue, and recovery services throughout the whole county and supports neighboring jurisdictions through mutual aid.