In Wake Of Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, Florida Offers To Remove Inoperable Boats From Waters

TAMPA BAY, FL — Through a new program launched by the state, the first inoperable or damaged boats voluntarily turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission by their owners were removed from state waters in Pasco and Pinellas counties this spring.

A 1972 40-foot Uniflite cabin motorboat was removed from Pasco County waters after it began taking on water. And a 1985 26-foot Tanzer sailboat was removed from Pinellas County waters after it broke loose from its anchor.

The FWC Vessel Turn-In Program was approved last year to tackle the rising number of derelict boats abandoned along Florida's coasts.

Senate Bill 1086, passed during the 2022 legislative session, allocated $19.9 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars to remove "at-risk" boats that pose a hazard to other boaters and the environment at no cost to the boat owners.

"Removing the vessel before it deteriorates into a derelict condition will prevent legal ramifications for the vessel owner, protect Florida’s valuable seagrass resources, marine life and human life, safety and property, and save Florida taxpayers money," Phil Horning, administrator of the FWC's vessel turn-in program, said.

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Col. Roger Young, director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement, said derelict vessels are more costly and complicated to remove than at-risk vessels. The new program, therefore, will save the taxpayers money and result in fewer unsightly derelict boats littering Florida waters.

“Derelict vessels are a priority for the FWC. Establishing the vessel turn-in program provides a voluntary pathway for owners to remove at-risk vessels from the water before becoming derelict, thereby reducing future costs of removal," said Young. "Removing at-risk vessels from Florida’s waterways before they become derelict is not only a win for the environment but also for public safety, taxpayers and the vessel owners.”

Before implementing the vessel turn-in program, the only option for state, county and local law enforcement to get rid of derelict boats was to tag them, attempt to locate the registered owners and then order the owners to hire a salvage company to remove the boats.

Owners who failed to do so were not only fined, but were responsible for reimbursing the law enforcement agency the cost of removing the boat.

Derelict boats are defined by the FWC as boats that are sinking or have sunk, been dismantled or beached.

When a derelict vessel is identified, the FWC conducts both criminal and civil investigations to trace the owners and hold them accountable, a process that can be lengthy and expensive.

Intentionally abandoning a boat in state waters is a third-degree felony and violators can face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine plus the cost of the boat's removal by a salvage company.

Depending on the size of the boat, it can cost a boat owner between $3,500 to $17,000 to hire a salvage company to remove a boat.

“The FWC is committed to reducing the number of derelict vessels in and around the waters of Tampa Bay,” said Maj. Rob Rowe, FWC southwest regional commander. “These vessels are a hazard to the environment and navigation on the water. We will continue to address these issues and work with vessel owners to ensure that the waters in and around Tampa Bay remain safe for boaters and marine life.”

The vessel turn-in program allows boat owners to avoid fines by having their boats that are inoperable and can't be repaired removed before they're designated "derelict."

Since launching the program, however, the FWC has received only 28 applications from owners of at-risk or unwanted vessels despite the fact that imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified more 7,500 displaced, damaged vessels following Hurricane's Ian and Nicole last fall.

FWC officers have documented and assessed more than 4,200 vessels in Florida waters since the hurricanes. In Lee County, where Hurricane Ian made landfall last September, 708 boats were declared derelict by the FWC.

“We hope that vessel owners will take advantage of this process,” said Horning. “It is an easy and free way to have their at-risk vessels removed from waters of the state before the vessel becomes derelict and the owner faces potential legal action.”

To qualify for the vessel turn-in program, a boat must be floating on state waters and cannot be among those declared derelict by law enforcement officials. The owner must have at least one written warning or citation for an at-risk condition and possess a clear title to the vessel.

The FWC is taking applications from at-risk vessel owners for the vessel turn-in program. Boat owners can call VTIP specialists at the FWC for more information on the program at 850-488-5600 or by clicking here.

“FWC commissioners receive numerous complaints from the public about derelict vessels, and I know the establishment of this new program will really make a difference,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.