Hurricane Ian: Deadline extended for derelict vessel owners to remove boats

[Montanan]

Hurricane Ian: Deadline extended by 45 days until the end of December 2022 for derelict vessel owners to remove boats, Florida Fish, Wildlife, Conservation Commision says


https://www.yahoo.com/news/hurricane...152520437.html

Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press

After Hurricane Ian made landfall late September, officials are giving vessel owners an extra cushion.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Friday a 45-day grace period to bring derelict vessels into compliance or remove them from state waters.

The grace period ended Nov. 15, officials said, adding that it impacted a significant number of vessels. Many residents continue to assess damage.

As a result, FWC decided to extend the waiver acceptance deadline through the end of December.

[tamicatana]

Or what?

FWC does nothing about them. Maybe slap a tag on. But the boats keep sitting where they are. Been watching this go on for years

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by tamicatana

Or what?

FWC does nothing about them. Maybe slap a tag on. But the boats keep sitting where they are. Been watching this go on for years

Read the linked article:

Snipet: -

"Officials still encourage owners to hire a salvage company to recover their vessel to provide the safest method possible for the vessel and the environment.

Vessel owners may release ownership of a displaced vessel through the waiver process if they don’t have the resources to salvage or bring the vessel out of derelict status themselves, officials said.

The FWC will then facilitate the removal and destruction of the vessel. They won't charge owners for removal costs.

Owners may contact the FWC through the Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline at 850-488-5600 and request to turn over a derelict vessel.

They've assessed more than 4,000 vessels, with over 500 of those are derelict.

They expect the number will change as they discover and assess, or remove more vessels

Residents can request the removal of debris, including vehicles, vessels, motorcycles, trailers and ATVs."

[Montanan]

Most recent news reporting of Florida's Volunteer Turn-In Program:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/t-maintai...210743371.html


David Goodhue
Tue, November 29, 2022 at 2:07 PM
Is your boat marooned from a recent storm? Stuck in a canal? Listing or sunk?

Now you can hand over the keys to the state and walk away.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began a program this week allowing people to surrender their boats to the state if they can no longer maintain them.

The program comes as the Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys are still cleaning up displaced boats after Hurricane Ian made landfall in late September. More than 100 boats were displaced in the Keys in the storm’s wake, and thousands on the southwest coast, according to the FWC. Of those, more than 500 are considered derelict.

The agency announced this week that it is accepting applications from vessel owners for its Volunteer Turn-In Program, which it says is a “key component of Florida’s derelict vessel prevention program.”

The number of impacted vessels is significant and many residents are still assessing damages,” the law enforcement agency said in a statement.

The point of the VTIP program is so owners can arrange to have their boats disposed of by the state before they become derelict. Ignoring a derelict boat can lead to criminal charges and even jail time, according to the FWC.

“Acting now is the best way to prevent legal action from occurring if the vessel becomes derelict,” said Phil Horning, VTIP administrator.

Once the VTIP application is approved, the agency will take possession of the boat and dispose of it at no cost to the owner.

“Removing the vessel before it deteriorates into a derelict condition will prevent legal ramifications for the vessel owner and will protect Florida’s valuable seagrass resources, marine life, and human life, safety and property,” the FWC said.

[RaymondR]

Actually sounds like a reasonable and sensible policy.