County to remove five derelict vessels from St. Johns River

Posted On: November 1, 2020

Florida is plagued with derelict vessels that pollute waters, pose safety issues for boaters, become locations for illegal activity, and cost taxpayers big bucks when they have to be removed.

Volusia County Government is taking the issue seriously. The county’s Environmental Management and Coastal divisions have been working with cities for several years to remove derelict vessels from the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean.

Now county staff is turning an eye toward the St. Johns River. Armed with a $47,160 grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the county has hired TSI Discovery Recovery of Melbourne to remove five vessels from the river and its tributaries this week.

Two vessels, which were abandoned in Lake Monroe Park, will be removed Monday, Nov. 2. Later this week, TSI will remove vessels from Lake George, Morrison Creek and Ziegler Dead River.