TOMS RIVER, N.J. – The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office has added a hovercraft to its emergency response fleet, giving deputies a new tool to conduct search and rescue missions in areas of Barnegat Bay and other waterways that are inaccessible to conventional boats.
The release comes after two deadly crashes on the Barnegat Bay in July that claimed the lives of three people, including a young boy and his sister.
The agency recently held a training exercise in Toms River, where members of the Sheriff’s Office practiced operating the hovercraft and familiarized themselves with its handling, maneuverability and rescue capabilities.
Built for challenging rescue conditions
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the hovercraft is designed to travel across shallow water, mudflats and ice, making it especially valuable during emergencies in Ocean County’s tidal marshes and waterways.
Officials said deputies spent the training day building the skills needed to safely deploy the craft during real-world rescue operations.
“The hovercraft gives members of our agency the ability to reach areas that traditional boats can’t, including shallow water, mudflats, and ice, making it a valuable tool for search and rescue operations across Ocean County’s waterways,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Investment in specialized rescue equipment
On behalf of Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, the department said the new hovercraft reflects its continued investment in equipment and training to improve public safety on the water.
“We’re proud to continue investing in the equipment and training that keep our waterways safe,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved the procurement contract for the hovercraft and trailer in December 2025 under Bid B2025-195, awarding the purchase to Neoteric Hovercraft Inc.
While the Sheriff’s Office has not released the final purchase price, commercial search-and-rescue hovercraft of this type typically cost between $70,000 and $125,000, depending on configuration and emergency equipment. The contract also included a trailer and specialized accessories needed for emergency operations.
Expanding Ocean County’s rescue fleet
The hovercraft joins the Sheriff’s Office’s growing fleet of specialized rescue vehicles, which also includes a SHERP amphibious all-terrain vehicle used to navigate flooded areas, marshes, ice and other terrain where conventional emergency vehicles cannot travel.
The addition comes as emergency responders continue to prepare for rescues in the unique environment of Barnegat Bay, where shallow water, tidal flats and seasonal ice can complicate response efforts.
Ocean County has one of New Jersey’s largest networks of bays, rivers and coastal marshes. The addition of a hovercraft provides first responders with another specialized resource for reaching stranded boaters, missing persons and residents in locations that are difficult or impossible to access with traditional rescue boats.
