South Carolina sees increase in abandoned boats

Posted on 14 July 2010
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Officials in South Carolina are concerned about a growing number of large abandoned boats dotting the Intracoastal Waterway.

"These boats are just junk laying out here in the middle of the waterway," Ronald McManus, with the Freedom Boat Group, told television station WMBF. "It is just ridiculous for our tourists to come down here and see, and it's a very serious problem."

Horry County councilman Brent Schulz agreed something needs to be done to resolve what he calls a growing problem.

"I think part of it has to do with the economy," he told the television station. "I think people cannot afford to pay the dockage to keep the boats up and they leave the boats abandoned."

According to Schulz, the county does not have the means or jurisdiction to resolve the issue alone.

"The waterway is considered navigable waters of the U.S., so it's going to involve a federal agency or even the state of South Carolina, and I've made calls and I've tried to get on top of this," said Schulz. "I've been told by different groups such as the EPA, Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers that it's a lack of funding or it's not their jurisdiction or there's several reasons that I get."

According to Robert McCullough with the state's Department of Natural Resources, the agency identifies the abandoned boats, but local agencies with the county or city where the boats are left are supposed to remove them.

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Comments
14 Tuesday, 27 July 2010 22:34
I'm interested in hauling some out. As long as they have clear titles and no tax liens. One man's junk is another man's treasure. Let's clean it up.
13 Thursday, 22 July 2010 15:36
Sounds like a great service project for a Scouts looking for an Eagle Scout ideas.........help clean up the riverways/shoreline. Even one less boat can help improve the local area. Perhaps with some assistance from local boat owners and marinas for towing and equipment etc, a group of Scouts could cooridnate removal and dismantling of some eyesores. My two cents.....
12 Friday, 16 July 2010 22:41

Here in Charleston, just this week, they started removing hulks in our Ashley River with a 60,000 grant from the feds. It will only pay for a portion of the boats to be hauled, they will be pulled, cut and taken to a dump.


Most, if not all, valuable parts are long gone. even brightworks, or in some cases, even wood pieces have been ferreted away.


Sadly, there are still two other rivers and the ICW to maintain that no dollars are there for. Volunteers only.


We suggested to let us drag them out to form an aritficial reef, but even that is a challenge to remove engines, etc. I still hope for some movement to allow us to use a degreaser to clean the inside of the motors before scuttling and avoid pulling them. It would speed up the process greatly.


The fiberglass is fairly inert and we all know how quickly wildlife grows on it!

11 Thursday, 15 July 2010 23:20
Maybe yachtworld or boats.com should add a section that lets buyers bid on craft that are going back to the bank or just left somewhere at anchor.
10 Thursday, 15 July 2010 12:06

Stop looking to the federal government. If we're ever to get out of this mucked up mess we're in today, we the local-county-state government must solve this problem. Federal money is our money with a BIG chunk removed. The Army Corp of Engineers is where I would start to obtain permission to remove the abandoned vessels.  Ask those in the industry to offer there services, gratis, as a community service. Ask the newspapers and television to give you coverage, mentioning all the businesses that have participated (free advertising guys). If any vessel is mortgaged it will have value to the lending group.  Good luck !!!!

9 Thursday, 15 July 2010 11:02

Look and listen to all the seagulls!

8 Thursday, 15 July 2010 02:34
Can the county afford a gas can and a flare gun. I don't mean to be a smart mouth just another idea.
7 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 22:38

This is not a subject for "smart mouths",  rather "smart minds",


The city of St Augustine,  through the "city managers' office has faced this issue with very positive resutls.


Edward the sailmaker!

6 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 21:05
As a few above have noted, I am more than willing to retrieve Viking, Bertram, Hatteras, etc. sport fishing boats and motoryachts. As a matter of fact, I'd really hustle if somebody asked me to go rescue a nice, big abandoned Grand Banks trawler! I'll even settle for lesser quality! Give me a chance, I want to do my part to help solve this problem.
5 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 19:48

This is a serious problem that is not just associated with Waterways.


Boat yards are sitting on many abandoned boats left in storage that are producing zero storage revenue. These boats tend to fall into total disrepair,


One local boat yard looks like a dead sailboat bone yard full of


dead boats that will never see a launch ramp again.


Good luck to a industry that is in deep trouble.


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4 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 18:29

I would be more than happy to help remove any tiara's or Bertram's from the ICW, at my expense.


Thanks

3 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 16:38
One of the things that the local municipalities should look into is the Federal Marine Debris program. It seems to be overlooked and unheard of by many, but it was designed to handle Marine debris following catastrophies, but we are seeing it used in the Great Lakes to remove things left on the bottom from historic marine related business' such as slab lumber from sawmills that floated their logs down the river system. If it can be stretched that far, it surely can pay to remove these abandoned boats.
2 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 16:03
Like the gentleman above I am looking for a sailboat calling my name," come get me and sail me away".Fix me and don't let me rot away. I want to do my share in keeping the water way beautiful. Jim
1 Wednesday, 14 July 2010 15:24
If anyone there happens upon a 2008 or newer 40' motoryacht in good condition, please let me know. I'll be happy to come down and rescue it... Just doing my part to keep the waterways beautiful!.

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