PHOTO BY DIGIDREMGRAFIC – STOCK.ADOBE.COMAfter Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida in late September, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gave vessel owners a 45-day grace period, which ended Nov. 15, to bring derelict vessels into compliance or remove them from state waters.
The FWC last week announced in a statement that the number of remaining impacted vessels is still significant and that many Florida residents are continuing to assess damages. Because of these challenges, the FWC has extended the waiver acceptance deadline through the end of December.
The FWC is still encouraging owners to hire a salvage company to recover vessels because it provides the safest recovery method possible for the boat and the environment. An owner can release ownership of a displaced vessel through the waiver process if he/she doesn’t have the resources to salvage or bring the vessel out of derelict status themselves. The FWC will then facilitate the removal and disposal of the vessel without charge to the owner. A boat owner can contact the FWC through the Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline at 850-488-5600 to request the removal and ownership turn-over a derelict vessel.
The FWC and partner agencies are working together to ensure the continuity of the vessel removal operation. More than 4,000 vessels have been assessed and more than 500 of the vessels are considered derelict.
In Charlotte and Lee Counties, the Division of Emergency Management has assumed the role of coordinating the removal and disposal of vessels. The DEM has worked closely with the FWC, the Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard and local governments to identify and remove debris from waterways and upland private and commercial properties.
A newly created State Debris Cleanup Program will assist Hurricane Ian survivors with the removal of displaced and abandoned titled property.
