Today the Ministry of Transport, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Marine and Ports Services are advising the public that 37 abandoned and derelict boats – owners unknown – will shortly be removed from the water and disposed of. This is a joint programme between Government and Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) in accordance with an MOU signed by the Minister of Transport.
The 37 ‘unknown’ abandoned and derelict vessels are located in the Riddell’s Bay, Lagoon Park, Stock’s Harbour, Marginal Wharf, St. George’s Harbour and Great Bay areas and are not only unsightly but also present a hazard to other motoring vessels. Government cannot currently find any characteristic names or boat registration details on these abandoned and derelict boats. However, if you are the owner of any of these boats, you have 30 days from today, Monday 17, January 2022, to remove your vessel from its current location and relocate it to a site that does not contravene the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 2002, the Marine Board Act 1962, the Marine & Ports Authority (Dumping) Regulations 1967 or any other law of Bermuda. To review the notice and list of abandoned and derelict vessels, visit https://www.gov.bm/theofficialgazette/notices/gn00862022.
Should you wish to identify to Government whether any of these vessels belong to you, you can voluntarily agree to allow the Ministry to dispose of it at no cost to you by completing a consent form and returning it to the Department of Marine & Ports Services. You can contact the Department of Marine & Ports Services to obtain the consent form, which will also be posted on the Government website www.gov.bm.
However, if you do not respond within 30 days from today, Monday 17, January 2022, your vessel may be disposed of, and if the vessel identity is subsequently determined upon recovery, then the costs incurred as a result of said disposal may be payable by you.
Pursuant to the Marine & Ports Authority (Dumping) Regulations 1967, the Minister of Transport may direct the disposal of any vessel which has been abandoned and is likely to become unsightly or impede the free navigation of the territorial waters of Bermuda. In doing so, the Minister may direct that the person responsible for the abandonment of the vessel be liable for the costs associated with the disposal of the vessel. The Ministry of Public Works will provide the disposal site and the disposal of hazardous wastes removed from each vessel.
For all abandoned or derelict boats where the owner is known, Government will be contacting those boat owners in due course before the boats’ removal.
For more information, please contact pollutioncontrol@gov.bm.