Day & Night Magazine 2015-16 New Smyrna Beach | Page 52

U.S. Coast Guard
Ponce Inlet Station
Nestled on government property at the end of Peninsula Avenue, Ponce Inlet, is the U.S. Coast Guard
station. According to the personable Senior Chief, Mike Silvey, who commands the station, operations
began in 1938 at the present site with most of the structures from that era still being used in everyday
operations . . . The newer building by the entrance was built about 10 years ago and has ten living
quarter units upstairs while downstairs is the mess hall, recreation room and TV lounge.
The New Smyrna Coast Guard station is one of nine on Florida’s east coast between Mayport in
Jacksonville to Key West. Its prime mission is search and rescue, along with the awareness of boating
safety to all those who use area waters. The station does get an assist from volunteers on that accord
who are in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
While some 20 guardsmen are assigned to the Ponce Inlet station, an additional 28 coast guard
reservists put in time usually on the first and second weekend of each month, they also go on active
duty two weeks each summer. In addition, the station is headquarters for a U.S. Marine Fisheries agent
who’s task in this area is to study marine life.
To assist in the tasks of a dangerous inlet, a new specially built 48 foot search & rescue vessel was
delivered in 2001. State of the art, this craft can take seas up to 30 feet and if capsized, will right itself.
As Chief Silvey said “It’s state of the art in every way”, from computers to 4 steering stations, three
electronics and one hydraulic.
Smaller boats from 17’ to 24’ are also based at the Ponce Inlet station which also serves the St. Johns
River and Lake George in west Volusia County.

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