As I was watching the City of Miami television station the other day, they discussed the use of federal funds in order to finally remove some of the boats sunken by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. The real deal is that the boat owner is responsible for boat removal. I believe that it is not reasonable to rely on the boat owner to remove their sunken boat from the water…at least not the way the system is currently set up. Supposedly if an owner does not remove the vessel, they are subject to criminal charges, but I don’t think that’s what happened with these hurricanes.
During the hurricanes we saw pictures on the news of sunken houseboats, sailboats, motorboats. Debris floating away, and I’m sure, chemicals leaking into the water. These boats sit there forever, causing a big mess, until somehow, someone pays for the removal.
The Derelict Grant program, which "has" funds for this kind of thing, did not receive funds for the 2004-5 or 2005-6 fiscal years. Also see the Derelict & Abandoned Vessels FAQ.
My idea: Require boat owners to place a deposit in a secure fund (bank) that would cover such removal. Basically, pre-pay. They could even pull out the interest every year for all I care. It just seems that the current system isn’t working. Years can pass before lawsuits finish and a governmental organization finally offers up some cash. If a person owns a boat, they need to be able to afford to deal with the worst consequences.
4 Responses to “Sunken Boats: Who’s Responsibility?”
Rebecca, this is indeed a very good point for the waterways and beyond. After Hurricane Andrew, there were boats — big ones — that had been swept onto land and while I can’t give you exact details right now, I remember seeing photos of HUGE (not private vessels but commercial ones) pushed ashore from the force of the storm, not just a few inches from the water, but so far inland to make a water removal a moot point.
The whole issue of how to “pay for” hurricane damage is indeed a big deal on every level homeowners/boatowners et al … and boat owners, already paying for slips and the costs of boating (those things we love are money pits), might be reluctant to spring for disposal when they’ve been getting away with it for so long. There are plenty of little “wrecks” in the bay to account for this.
There was a case years ago, a rare hurricane in the southern Caribbean, in which a windjammer boat dropped off passengers in Central America and then the captain and crew decided to ride out the storm. They were never found.
Then there are the boat owners who dry dock in facilities. My guess is that they probably pay an inclusive insurance.
No matter how well you tie up your boat, when a big one hits, your boat is basically gone to the wind, worst case scenario. So yes, Rebecca, something needs to be done about the after-math … after all … no boater wants a wreck interfering with navigation. In reality, I believe, we spend so much time and energy and money just getting life back to normal, that boating issues go to the back burner.
Mine-fields, N.O. LA. Yes,we wood love somone to remove Sunken, and or damaged boats !!!Say the buricrats, But when ,somone cames by an said, I’d like that one. Left for the junk-man by the oner & Insur.company , ,We’ll even take 5 or 6 more at our own exspence !! – - -Mine FIELDS– We get,HOW the H– are you ??If you can cross the impasible mine field,maybe and I mean Maby ! !Harbor Master ?,Not seen nor heard from since the storm !Office help,the same !How’s in charge,every one, and no one !!Self apointted gaurds,every wear !!4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
What are the laws about average citizens who care about saving the waterways removing abandoned boats? And can titles be issued for those rescued boats so that somebody else might get some enjoyment out of them?
Hi my name is joe…i had two large shrimp boats in key west fla when dennis and katrina came thru..both storms battered my boats to bad for me to repair them..i contacted fema and was told that they would help..i had to get my boats to a railways and have estimates for repairs..so i took them back to my home town of tarpon springs fla and did as i was told..and when i contacted them again i was told the devistation was too great in mississippi and La for them to help me..i borrowed fuel on credit down in key west to get my boats to the railway and even though tarpon springs use to be a fishing village now there isnt dock space for our boats i had to bank my boats on the edge of the river using fuel in a 5 gallon bucket to move them now there sitting there and no way to repair them..im being fined daily and told i am gonna have two felony charges one for each boat if i dont remove them in 30 days..water has gotten into the engines now there in even worse shape.. and i did get a job mowing grass for 10.00 dollars an hour and thankful just to feed my family..both my wife and i work and have just enough to pay taxes and insurance on our home..i sold what property i had and lost 300,000.00 worth of boats im lucky to still have my home..over 20 years of fishing and shrimping made a fair living for us …i sure miss my old life on the water but need to move these boats..i dont want to go to jail of have them felonies just because two storms destroyed my life and boats..the city of tarpon springs has about 25,000.00 in fines and then 30,000 to 40,000 to remove each boat..are other hurricane victims being treated like this also..thats 20 years of my life and 300,000.00 worth of boats and i sure wouldnt just abandoned them.. i survived two major hurricanes and now im facing this nightmare..my 10 yr old daughter asked me..daddy are you going to jail… thanks for any info….joe 727 741 1937……joe renardo 1232 n fla ave tarpon springs fla 34689…maybe a 5 or 10 dollare fee added to boat registrations might prevent this type of nightmare from happening to someone else