👩⚕️ Who: HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, Destin Fire Control District, Dr. Cathy Ho, Captain Doug Kocour
🚤 What: Unveiling of Marine 19, a 52-foot advanced life support coastal fast response rescue boat
📅 When: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 9–10 a.m.
📍 Where: Destin Fire Control District Station 19 (Harbor Station), 127 Calhoun Ave., Destin
❤️ Why: To provide faster, on-the-water trauma stabilization for maritime emergencies and improve patient outcomes ahead of peak tourism season
As thousands of visitors prepare to descend on the Emerald Coast for Spring Break, local first responders are adding a powerful new tool to their arsenal on the water.
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and the Destin Fire Control District will officially unveil Marine 19, a 52-foot advanced life support coastal fast response vessel designed to function as a “floating emergency room” for maritime emergencies.
The boat, the largest fire rescue vessel of its kind in Florida, significantly expands the reach of first responders across the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay. Officials say the vessel allows trauma surgeons, paramedics, and fire rescue crews to begin critical stabilization efforts before patients ever reach shore.
As the tri-county area’s only trauma center, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital regularly treats high-acuity injuries ranging from vehicle crashes to severe boating accidents. With hotspots like Crab Island drawing heavy boat traffic and swimmers each season, the need for rapid, water-based emergency response continues to grow.
Marine 19 is built for speed, range, and resilience, capable of operating in rough offshore conditions while carrying advanced life-saving equipment typically found inside a hospital trauma bay. That capability is especially critical for diving accidents, offshore medical emergencies, and traumatic injuries occurring miles from land.
Hospital and fire leaders say the vessel represents a deepening partnership between local fire rescue teams and the hospital’s trauma specialists. By shortening the time between injury and advanced care, they hope to improve survival rates and long-term outcomes for maritime patients.
A technical tour and on-the-water interviews will be held on Friday morning at Destin Fire Control District’s Harbor Station.
Scheduled speakers include:
Dr. Cathy Ho, trauma surgeon at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital
Doug Kocour, Captain, Destin Fire Control District
Officials say Marine 19 will serve not only as a community asset, but also as a potential federal resource during large-scale emergencies along the Gulf Coast.
With tourism season ramping up, leaders say the timing couldn’t be more important.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
Register or login with Mid Bay News and never get another pop up on our site!
