Community Corner

Navy Rappel Tower Now Tallest Structure in Imperial Beach

Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units on the West Coast of the United States will use the rappel tower at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach, a Navy official said.

Residents near Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NOLF IB) may have spent the past few months wondering what a crane and construction crew spent the last couple months building.

They probably didn't know a rappel tower to train sailors would become the tallest structure in Imperial Beach. 

Completed in late July, the tower is 61 feet tall, according to Lt. Cmdr. Donnell Evans. Since the tower is on Navy land it does not have to adhere to a 40-foot height limit enforced in the city of Imperial Beach.

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Construction of the tower started in February and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held July 24, Evans said. The tower will be used by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units.

"EOD Mobile Unit 11 has been training at NOLF IB since June of 2010. The tower will offer training opportunities at NOLF IB to all west coast EOD personnel," he said.

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The NOLF IB rappel tower is about the same height as another in use at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado.


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