The City of Sebastian faces a recurring issue with abandoned vessels in the Indian River Lagoon, particularly after hurricanes. These storms often dislodge boats, leading to sunken vessels, dock and shoreline damage, and environmental hazards.
The sinking of these vessels poses a significant threat to the lagoon’s ecosystem. Leaking fuels and other pollutants contaminate the water, exacerbating a longstanding problem. This issue has persisted more so during the past two decades, with Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne causing widespread damage twenty years ago.
During Hurricane Matthew in 2016, a man’s sailboat broke loose, crashing into multiple docks. It eventually washed ashore near the Tiki Bar & Grill, where it remained for years before being removed by the state. City officials say this lengthy process is costly and time-consuming when it’s the boat owner’s responsibility.
Many abandoned vessels are owned by out-of-state residents who leave them unattended during storms. Some owners even remove the serial numbers on abandoned boats to avoid responsibility. Environmentalists have said this practice has turned the lagoon into a dumping ground for unwanted vessels.
To address this problem, other coastal communities like Indian River Shores and Vero Beach have implemented anchoring limitations. These restrictions allow for the removal of boats moored for more than 45 days, discouraging long-term abandonment.
While Sebastian has considered similar measures, concerns about costs have prevented the implementation of new regulations.
“The upfront cost to the City was estimated to be roughly up to 80-95k plus consulting, survey, and permitting costs, which were not known. So the number would have been pretty high,” City Manager Brian Benton told Sebastian Daily.
The City would be responsible for maintaining and inspecting roughly 30 buoys, 12 pilings, and 24 signs. Unfortunately, Sebastian is not adequately resourced to handle this problem at this time.
Councilman Fred Jones, a member of the Beach and Shore Preservation Advisory Committee, is actively involved. The committee assists the Board of County Commissioners by conducting studies and recommending programs for beach and shore preservation and courses of action for the Board to take.
The current process for removing abandoned vessels involves a lengthy investigation and notification period. If no owner is identified, the county can then remove the vessel and seek reimbursement from the state. But finding the boat owners can be challenging.
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