When Hurricane Irma destroyed the docks at a favorite tailgate marina, three organizations came together to save the day and the party.
College football fanatics were able to continue an in-water tailgating tradition at the Florida vs Georgia game thanks to the temporary floating docks on loan from the NMMA, built by Bellingham Marine.
Jacksonville, FL, USA – 31 October 2017 – On Saturday more than 150,000 college football fanatics converged on Jacksonville for the annual Florida vs. Georgia game lovingly known as The World’s Largest Cocktail Party. Eager fans traditionally start docking their boats at the City’s nearby Metropolitan Park Marina on Friday, spending the weekend celebrating with in-water tailgating. This year Irma had other plans.
The Metro Park fixed docks were completely wiped out by Hurricane Irma’s storm surge. According to the National Weather Service, storm waters reached up to 6 ft. above normal high tides, an event never seen before, as Irma passed Jacksonville. Many normally dry places were left underwater.
Norton will work to increase emphasis and enforcement of electrical safety in marinas.
Cliff Norton, of the Bellingham Marine Utilities Division, has been appointed to the NFPA’s Code Panel to provide input on the upcoming 2020 NEC.
Jacksonville, FL, USA – 11 October 2017 – Cliff Norton, General Manager of Bellingham Marine’s Utilities Division, has been appointed to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Code Panel #7. The panel will be working on the upcoming 2020 version of the National Electric Code (NEC). Norton represents the marine industry and helps to provide input for new code language concerning floating buildings, marinas and boatyards.
The purpose of the NEC is to safeguard persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. Norton previously served as a panel member on an NFPA project that developed measures for preventing Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) around marinas. Norton is a respected voice in the marine industry. He publishes articles and conducts training sessions on the topic of proper marina electrical design and maintenance.