GULFPORT, Fla. — Gulfport officials have approved the first phase of expanding their boat mooring field.
The designated area has preinstalled anchors where boats can be tied up.
The current field has 25 rental spots, and the proposal would add 75 additional mooring balls.
The Gulfport municipal marina is close to Barbra and George Leonard’s home. After a brief absence from the marina, they are looking forward to coming back.
“We’ve kept a boat here at the Gulfport Marina now for well for over 10 years, and right now, we’re in the process of buying our next boat,” Barbra Leonard said.
The sailors navigate through the bay only during the day out of concern for derelict boats that might have sunk after anchoring outside the Gulfport mooring field, but near the marina.
“There’s always been a problem with boats coming ashore because the holding in the bay is not very good. It’s great for overnight, if you just want to go spend the night, watch the sun come up, watch the sun go down, but long term, it’s not that good,” she said.
Gulfport Municipal Marina Director Denis Frain said the mooring field has about 90% occupancy depending on the season. It could soon be expanding, though, opening up more spots for boaters.
The Gulfport City Council has approved the first phase of the proposal that would bring the mooring field to a total of 100 spots.
“I’ve been dealing with derelict vessels for the last 42 years in my career here with the City of Gulfport. There’s more boats out there than there ever has been. So hopefully by installing this mooring field, we’ll get responsible owners to use the mooring field and the amenities that the Gulfport Municipal Marina has,” Frain said.
The first phase of the expansion will include underwater surveys and environmental studies at a cost of $95,000. Frain said he expects phase two to be considered by the city council later this year.
“Phase two would be the actual engineering, and the construction and installation of the mooring themselves,” Frain said.
The Leonards said they support the proposal. They would rather have boats use the city’s mooring field instead of anchoring beside it.
“The mooring balls have like a screw on them, and they really embed them deep into the soil under the water so that they’re much more stable than just an anchor,” Barbra Leonard said.
Some boaters also said they have concerns about the pump-out boat not running frequently enough, considering the potential addition of new boats.
Frain said they are planning to increase the pump-out boat run times if the mooring field expansion gets approved.