BOWLEYS QUARTERS, MD—Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Rescue & Marine’s Marine Emergency Team 21 on Wednesday announced plans to contract with Ocean Craft Marine to build a new, state-of-the-art rescue boat. This significant investment will enhance the team’s capabilities and improve its response to maritime emergencies throughout the region.

The new vessel will be a 6.5-meter (23-foot) rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), designed for easy trailering and deployment across MET21’s service area, including tidal waterways and reservoirs. Equipped with a 200hp outboard engine and jack plate for shallow-water operations, the boat will also feature advanced sonar, navigation, communication systems, a 500 gpm fire pump, and basic life support equipment. Its low-profile design will facilitate easy access to the waterline for inland rescue swimmers and victim retrieval.

The new RHIB will replace MET Boat 216, significantly increasing the team’s rescue capabilities. The limitations of the existing vessel were highlighted during the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, where it could not be deployed due to unfavorable conditions. The new boat’s design and capabilities will prevent such limitations in the future.

The $240,000 project is fully funded by grants from the Maryland Waterway Improvement Fund, the Baltimore Community Foundation, Chesapeake Marine, and the Mark Kukucka Foundation.

Currently under construction in Dubai, the vessel will be outfitted for fire-rescue use by Ocean Craft Marine upon its arrival in the United States. Delivery to MET21 is expected in August 2025, with the vessel going into service after operator training is complete.