Derelict Vessel Towed and Disposed of...
Another Eyesore Gone for Good!

The sailing vessel pictured above was moored in a picturesque little cove just South of Sheridan Street in Hollywood Florida along the Intracoastal Waterway. It is one of dozens of boats in Broward County each year that get abandoned by their owners for any number of reasons. Boats are typically abandoned when owners have financial or health issues and when the cost of dockage or repairs exceeds the value of the vessel. These desperate people become criminals when they intentionally litter our beautiful waterways with these unsightly boats that have fallen into a hopeless state of disrepair. TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale works with Broward County to assist in the towing and disposal of these vessels. Director of Operations Kevin Collins explains “We have managed disposal projects ranging from small runabouts to large wooden yachts over the years. Our system involves removing any environmentally harmful materials from the boat including fuel tanks and machinery. The hull and other equipment are disposed of at a land fill after items of worth have been stripped and sold for scrap. We not only offer this service to government agencies, we offer it to responsible boat owners that want to dispose of their old vessels legally. Our hope is that a larger percentage of vessel owners that are taking their boats out of service in the coming years will do it responsibly. Those of us that spend our time working and playing on the water are disappointed when these eyesores appear in our favorite anchorage.”

This vessel was towed from Hollywood to a boat ramp where she was loaded on a trailer and transported over the road to an inland facility where we performed the disassembly and ultimate disposal. Each step of the process was documented with photos that will serve as proof that the vessel was, in fact put to rest. The next time you are cruising north on The Intracoastal approaching the Sheridan Street Bridge, look toward the northeast and smile. You will see water, trees and maybe even some beautiful boats at anchor with people on board enjoying their surroundings!