Flotilla

The Bainbridge Island Flotilla is a critical part of the City of Bainbridge Island’s emergency planning and operations, given the island’s only two connections with the mainland, either or both of which can be rendered unusable by an emergency incident.

The Flotilla consists of volunteered recreational and commercial vessels, captains and crew members. Flotilla members train together with emergency professionals to provide vital transportation over water to emergency responders, citizens, and critical patients in need of transport to definitive care.

Team Leads

Mission and Community Impact:

The Flotilla Team provides a strategic advantage to the island community in emergency scenarios, ensuring vital connection and aid when traditional access points may be compromised. The team’s local knowledge and ability to skillfully and safely navigate known waterways, beaches, and ports opens up alternate channels for supply delivery, personnel/citizen/medical patient transport, and environmental monitoring. The utilization of private vessels in such services underscores the boating community’s collective commitment to shared responsibility and mutual aid during crises.

About the Team:

The Flotilla Team's strength lies in its volunteer members' willingness to work together, using their recreational and commercial vessels in service of the community during emergencies. Activation of the flotilla is at the discretion of a designated member of the City's incident response team. The team’s co-leads train volunteer captains, crew, and shore personnel and ensure flotilla readiness. Volunteer captains have full authority over their vessels and crew. ANY and EVERY vessel is welcomed.

To encourage participation, the City offers to reimburse fuel costs for volunteers when activated and during City-sponsored training. Volunteers working in a sanctioned flotilla operation are registered with the State of Washington and insured for their work with the City.

Anyone wishing to be informed about the Flotilla can sign up here for the Flotilla newsletter.

Team Overview

Cascadia Rising Exercise

Resources and Questions

  • The Flotilla Team prepares by participating in city-sponsored training to enhance their skills and ensure efficient coordination during emergencies. An associated Marine Damage Assessment Team trains to quickly assess and report on the condition of ports and beaches.

  • During an activation, the team’s combination of local knowledge and available vessels opens up alternate channels for supply delivery, personnel/citizen/medical patient transport, and environmental monitoring.

  • The team is activated when necessary by a member of the City’s incident response team.

  • Support from the team is coordinated through the City's incident response team during emergencies.

  • To join this team:

    1. Register here as a captain or crew/shore support.

    2. We’ll then send you a Welcome Email. Click on the included link to register with COBI (includes a background check).

    3. Send the Team Leads a quick note letting them know once all your COBI credentials are complete.

    4. Secure your ham operator license. Learn more here.