Derelict Vessels
Derelict vessels can be found in many of the waterways of Florida. These abandoned vessels degrade and break apart over time, releasing different pollutants in the waters and soil. This is a problem for the use of the waterways for fishing, boating, skiing, and many other activities. This is also detrimental to the fish and other aquatic organisms and plants. The County of Volusia has partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to help remove some of these vessels.
Background information on derelict vessels
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has established rules regarding derelict vessels in Florida’s navigable waters. The current definition of a derelict vessel according to FWC is “A vessel is declared derelict if it is either dismantled or in non-working condition, is not able to be propelled under its own power, and has been abandoned in Florida’s waterways according to Florida Statute 823.11”. The FWC officers do due diligence to locate owners of these vessels by locating a VIN (vessel identification number) and posting a notice on the vessel for 21 calendar days. If the owner is located, they are asked to have the vessel removed. If the owners do not remove the vessel they are cited. If the owner is not located, or they refuse to remove the vessel, a Letter of Authorization is issued to the appropriate country and/or municipality. This letter gives the governing body the permission to have the vessel removed.
FWC offers grants to cities and municipalities to have these vessels removed from the navigable waterways of the state. Volusia County has received grants for two years to have vessels removed from the St. Johns River and its tributaries. In 2020 there were five vessels removed and in 2021 there were four vessels removed. During the removal process, the Environmental Management Division staff monitored the removal to ensure the contractors followed FWC’s Best Management Practices to minimize any impacts to the environment pursuant to FWC requirements and to take the necessary photos for documentation of the process. The destruction of the vessel was also monitored to ensure there were not any pollutants and that the vessel could not be resold. At the completion of the derelict vessel removals each year, a final report and photographs were submitted to FWC for reimbursement of the removal costs incurred by the County of Volusia.
After the derelict vessels are removed, FWC then attempts to recapture their cost from the owner of the vessel, if known. If the owner refuses to pay any of the amount, then that individual will not be entitled to be issued a certificate of registration for any vessel or motor vehicle in the State of Florida until all removal costs have been paid by the individual.
The Intracoastal Waterway (Halifax and Indian Rivers) has many derelict vessels. These vessels are removed through either municipality partnerships with FWC or on some occasions the County of Volusia’s Coastal Division will partner with FWC. The responsibility of removing derelict vessels in the St. Johns River and its tributaries falls to the County of Volusia’s Environmental Management Division. Below select a link to view a presentation for each of the Derelict Vessel Removals.
Looking ahead
The County of Volusia will continue to work on making the St. Johns River safer for recreational and commercial use and for the aquatic organisms that call the St. Johns River home. The best way to help us do so is to let us know if you see a derelict vessel without the Red Notice from FWC posted on the vessel. This means that we may be unaware of its presence. We are limited to the available funding from FWC so it may take some time to have a vessel removed, but we are striving to clean our waterways of the navigable hazards.
For more information about this process or to report a derelict vessel in the St. Johns River or its tributaries contact Sondra McCulloch at smcculloch@volusia.org.
