WOODS HOLE – The U.S. Coast Guard broke ground Thursday morning on a major $22 million upgrade of their Sector Southeastern New England Woods Hole headquarters.
Four buildings, including one that dated back to 1917, have already been torn down to make way for the project.
Two new structures will become home to the sector’s regional headquarters.
One of the original buildings was constructed by the U.S. Lifesaving Service, which was the precursor to the modern-day Coast Guard.
Captain Richard Shultz, commander of the sector, said it was great to have the whole Woods Hole community involved in the groundbreaking.
Surrounding businesses, local residents and Falmouth public officials were on hand for the event.
“The one building will house our Coast Guard Station Woods Hole and they will also house our offices for our cutters,” said Shultz.
The station is home to the cutters Tybee, Sanibel and Hammerhead.
The other new building will be home to the Aids to Navigation team and the sector’s engineering spaces.
“Our civil engineers, our Naval engineers, and the crews that go along with those two shops,” said Shultz.
He said they’re looking forward to getting two new, modern buildings that will help them complete their mission on a daily basis.
“It’s safer working conditions, safer working spaces, safer operating conditions as well as utilizing modern technology for building materials themselves, more energy efficient buildings which of course leads to cost savings,” said Shultz.
The entire project should be complete by the end of 2018.
Shultz said they’re hoping a mild winter that will help with the construction schedule over the next several months.
Sector Southeastern New England’s area of responsibility covers over 3,000 square miles of offshore waters and 1,200 miles of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts coastline, including the Cape and Islands.
There are currently over 420 active duty personnel in the Sector, and more than 1,200 Coast Guard Auxiliarists.
Coast Guard responsibilities include escorting Steamship Authority ferries to and from Martha’s Vineyard and Woods Hole, fisheries and boating enforcement, search and rescue missions and international vessel inspections/exams.
In 2016, Sector Southeastern New England responded to 497 search and rescue cases, conducted over 1,300 vessel inspections/exams and assisted 593 people, saving more than 130.
As of August of 2017, they had responded to 321 search and rescue cases, conducted 1,300 vessel inspections/exams and assisted 378 people, saving nearly 60.
By MATT MCCARTHY and MATT PITTA, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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