ST. CROIX — A dozen storm-damaged vessels that broke free from their lines in St. Thomas waters when Tropical Storm Ernesto hit the territory on August 13 will be removed by the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources because the owners have failed to claim them, according to a DPNR official.
A grouping of four vessels washed up in Charlotte Amalie Harbor near the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the waterfront promenade, creating a visible reminder to pedestrians and motorists of the high wind speeds and choppy marine conditions associated with the passing tropical storm five weeks ago.
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A total of 13 vessels got damaged after breaking free from their lines during the tropical storm, including the four located near the Legislature building, according to Howard Forbes, director of DPNR’s Division of Environmental Enforcement. He said one of the vessels near the Legislature building is in the process of being assessed by an insurance adjuster and removed from the water, leaving the government to remove the 12 others.
DPNR issued a news release four days after the storm on August 17 announcing that the department, along with the VI Territorial Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard, were unable to contact several registered boat owners whose vessels were damaged during the storm despite their best efforts.
Forbes reiterated that attempts to contact the registered boat owners were unsuccessful.
“We have tried right after the storm with negative results, so that’s why we’re in the process right now,” he said.
Some of the vessels were not registered in the territory, leaving no way for DPNR to identify the owners, Forbes said. He said it was likely the vessels traveled to the harbor for safety during the storm.
“No one is putting claim to the vessels,” he said. “We tried putting out notice to the boaters through public publication, and we haven’t got any response thus far.”
DPNR noted in its news release that the government would remove all unclaimed vessels in accordance with the law unless the owners came forward because the vessels pose a hazardous risk or obstacle to the community.
“They had 30 days to respond to us,” Forbes said. “We have not received any notification in regards to anyone making claim that they’re going to get the vessels removed. We went forward from that.”
DPNR will use its budgeted funds to hire a contractor that has already been identified to remove the vessels, Forbes said. He said he is making the final arrangements with the Department of Property and Procurement to hire the contractor.
“The money’s already been appropriated for the removal, for the contract but we’re just waiting for approval,” he said, declining to say how much has been appropriated.
Jamal Nielsen, DPNR spokesperson, said the cost for removal of the vessels is an expense the department must cover.
“We don’t know how much the total value is right now, how much it’s going to cost, but the bottom line is that we have to take that expense, and they will be moved and disposed of so that our harbor will be free of this marine debris,” Nielsen said.
After the vessels get removed from the harbor, Forbes said the contractor will cut them into smaller pieces and separate materials like fiberglass, metal, and wood for proper disposal at the Bovoni Landfill.
“They can’t send them as a whole intact vessel,” he said.
