The new Clearwater Beach Marina conceptual design was presented at the Nov. 13, 2023 City Council work session. We are anticipating the 90 percent completion of the design phase by mid-January, with construction scheduled to start in approximately June or July 2024.

All recreational permanent tenants will need to vacate the beach marina no later than Feb. 29, 2024. The marina office has started contacting tenants by phone to stress the importance of adhering to this requirement.

If you still have a vessel moored at the beach marina, when you are vacating, contact the Harbormaster’s Office at (727) 562-4955, for a “Notification of Vacating Slip” form. When completing this form, there is a box to check if you are interested in returning after the rebuild. This will place you on a list to reserve a slip in the new marina. Only after you vacate the marina will you be eligible to be placed on this list and the reserved slip will be based on the dimensions of the current vessel. If you attempt to return with a different vessel with larger dimensions, you will not be guaranteed a slip.

Over the weekend of Dec.16 and 17, severe weather brought high winds, high tides and waves that crested over the east dock at the Clearwater Beach Marina. The wave action lifted over 100 feet of dock off the concrete pillars and left it sagging to the water. This is the dock leading out to the fuel pumps.

A team from the Marine & Aviation Department worked tirelessly for three days using a crane, straps and metal I-beams to secure the dock and get the fuel pumps back open for business.

The damage sustained during this mild weather event only highlights the need for a complete rebuild of the Clearwater Beach Marina, with resilience and sustainability as the main focus.

The wave attenuator replacement project on the south end of A-dock is on schedule to be completed by the third week of January 2024.

Some vessels had to be towed out of their assigned slips to temporary slips. If this was one of your vessels, keep in mind that it is a requirement of your permit agreement. Specifically, Section 11(A) states that "vessels shall be kept in a seaworthy and operational condition and shall not create fire hazards, sinking hazards, or eyesores."

These vessels will need to be taken to appropriate facilities for repairs. All vessels are required to be under their own power to be permitted to return to a permanently assigned slip.

We are still waiting for a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Permit so we can get started on repair and replacement of the Seminole Street Boat Launch ramps and piers.

We have the contractor selected and we are ready to get started as soon as we have the permit in hand.

We are in the process of obtaining permits for an anchoring limitation area in Mandalay Channel. We have selected a consultant to obtain all regulatory permitting for that area. The new ordinance will allow vessels to anchor in the permitted area for 45 days.

After the 45 days the vessel will not be permitted to anchor within one mile of the permitted area for six months. The photograph with the red lined portion shows the proposed Anchor Limitation Area.