ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Eckerd College’s Search and Rescue Team recently secured nearly $365,000 in state funding to help replace and repair equipment used by the student-run maritime program.

The team is the only collegiate maritime search and rescue program in the country. More than 60 student volunteers respond to an average of 400 calls a year, helping disabled boaters, towing vessels and working with the Coast Guard and fire departments on larger calls involving fires and missing people.

Natalie Gransky, a boat captain trainee with the Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team, said students are trained from the beginning, regardless of their experience on the water.

“All of our students come in and we assume that they have no boating knowledge, and we teach everybody from the ground up so that they can come out and help us help other people,” Gransky said.

That training includes learning different types of knots, which students said are all important to the team’s work.

“All of our knots we use have a purpose for them,” Gransky said. “So it’s important that we all know how to tie the same knots.”

The marine environment takes a toll on the team’s equipment. Gransky said salt, rust and algae build up over time, requiring regular maintenance and replacement.

Hurricane Helene also damaged docks on campus. Krista Park, assistant director of the Eckerd College Waterfront, said the state grant will help pay for engine replacements, dock upgrades, boat lifts, student uniforms and other needs.

“We’re spending it to go back into this program, into the students, to better help the people of Tampa Bay, because that’s what the team is all about, it’s a community service program,” Park said.

Park said the program is primarily funded through donations and an annual fundraiser organized by students. The organization said this is the first time in at least 20 years that it has received state funding and may be its largest funding award ever.

“Obviously, we’re still going to be doing our fundraising efforts to make sure that for other future years we’re going to be OK,” Park said. “But it is a really nice thing to not have to worry about it as much this year.”

Gransky said the grant will make a significant difference for the team as repair costs add up.

“It’s going to be a lot of help to our team,” Gransky said. “Like I mentioned, all of these different repairs can really add up. And for a team that relies heavily on donations for our funding, getting a grant of this size is going to help us immensely.”

The Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team has served the community for more than 50 years.