USCG Removes 750+ Wrecks from 2017 Hurricanes

[Steadman Uhlich]

USCG Removes 750+ Wrecks from 2017 Hurricanes

"Using cranes mounted on barges, the Coast Guard so far has removed more than 750 boats from the water, beaches, and mangroves in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

The Coast Guard is happy to return the boats to owners at no charge. It saves the government the cost of transporting and disposing of the wrecks. But, in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, most owners don't want their boats back. Tracy Keel, with the Army Corps of Engineers, is part of the team working on boat removal. He did a similar job on the Gulf coast after Katrina. In Louisiana and Mississippi, he says, "a lot of the owners came and got the boats and took them back. Not so much here. There are a lot of folks that have just pretty much said, 'I don't want to deal with it,' or they didn't have insurance.""

https://www.npr.org/2018/02/16/58543...virgin-islands

[hpeer]

Well good on them for getting the junk out of the water.

It’s real problem I don’t know how to deal with. But nothing gets better by letting them sink and clog up the waterways.

[hellosailor]

Very diplomatic of the USCG and others to not comment on whether they are even going to bother tracing the HINs and trying to locate, and bill, the owners.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

USCG Removes 750+ Wrecks from 2017 Hurricanes



SNIP

You really need to step up your game. The number of boats the USCG removed from the Florida Keys after Irma is more than twice that number. They have contacted some of the owners but same as in the Islands got no real help from them.

[hpeer]

Someone is going to pay the bill; the boat owners or the taxpayers. I just don’t want to see a bunch of lawyers made rich in the effort. Hard to know where to draw the line I suppose.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by tomfl

You really need to step up your game. The number of boats the USCG removed from the Florida Keys after Irma is more than twice that number. They have contacted some of the owners but same as in the Islands got no real help from them.

Step up your game? WTF

I just shared a news report from a credible news source.

If you want to add to the boat count, based on credible sources (give us a link), do so, if you are game.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Well good on them for getting the junk out of the water.

It’s real problem I don’t know how to deal with. But nothing gets better by letting them sink and clog up the waterways.

Agreed.

Better to remove them now, to remove the hazards and potential environmental damages from oil spills, etc.

[puffcard]

When you register a boat in Florida, they should add $500 and put it in a fund to help pay for removing all the junk boats.

[cameron82]

What if no one claims them can you buy them off the government .I understand a lot would be wrecks .But you might find a few that are worth saving

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by puffcard

When you register a boat in Florida, they should add $500 and put it in a fund to help pay for removing all the junk boats.

Be a very good way to make sure people stop registering boats.
As it is a lot of the problem boats have had the ID removed so they are untraceable, then as often as not the last registered owner sold the Boat many years ago.
However I see your point, I was under the understanding that money is set aside for removal.
Plus I bet you lunch that if there were a fee tacked onto registration, it would go to a general fund and be used for things having nothing to do with boats

[CaptTom]

My understanding is that a percentage of the "road" tax on boat fuel is earmarked for waterway-related projects. I think I heard that in FL specifically, some is also dedicated for wreck removal. Not sure how well these goals are achieved, or if they're even still doing that.

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Plus I bet you lunch that if there were a fee tacked onto registration, it would go to a general fund and be used for things having nothing to do with boats

Originally Posted by CaptTom

My understanding is that a percentage of the "road" tax on boat fuel is earmarked for waterway-related projects. I think I heard that in FL specifically, some is also dedicated for wreck removal. Not sure how well these goals are achieved, or if they're even still doing that.

Florida does not have the best track record, IMHO. They pushed through a bill many years ago to allow the Lottery with proceeds going to the Education Fund. My wife at the time, a teacher for 35 years, said 3 years after Lottery implementation there was no noticeable difference. Schools had no boost in funds!

It appeared to those she knew in higher administrative positions that millions, now billions, had been funneled into Education, as promised. But "normal" Education funds had been raided to provide a net result of zero.

[sailorboy1]

I noticed going down the AICW a few months ago the there were fewer sunk\ beached boats\delict boats from the year before which was post Matthew in 2016 to the current of post Irma 2017.

I have no doubt that this taxpayer funded.

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by puffcard

When you register a boat in Florida, they should add $500 and put it in a fund to help pay for removing all the junk boats.

Shut your mouth!

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by zengirl

Shut your mouth!

Yes and then sew it shut