CORTEZ – Before an unwanted boat reaches the condition of the abandoned, partially-sunken vessels littering the waters south of the Cortez Bridge, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Vessel Turn-in Program (VTIP) may be the answer for some boat owners.
The voluntary program is designed to help owners dispose of their at-risk vessels before they become derelict. Since the inception of the program in late 2022, the FWC has received 186 applications from owners statewide of at-risk or unwanted vessels and a milestone 100th vessel was removed on June 7.
“We are encouraged to see so many vessel owners taking advantage of this program,” VTIP Administrator Phil Horning said. “It is an easy and free way to have their at-risk vessels removed from waters of the state before they face potential legal action by allowing their vessel to become derelict. It would be great to remove a hundred more.”
Upon approval of an application, VTIP will take a surrendered vessel and dispose of it at no cost to the boat owner.
Local boat captains have expressed concern about sunken and unregistered boats south of the Cortez Bridge, and in May, marine law enforcement agencies issued more than 20 citations for multiple unregistered and derelict vessels.
“Removing the vessel before it deteriorates into a derelict condition will prevent legal ramifications for the vessel owner, protect Florida’s valuable seagrass resources, marine life and human life, safety and property, and save Florida taxpayers money,” according to the FWC.
To qualify for VTIP, the vessel must be floating in Florida waters and cannot be determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have at least one written warning or citation for an at-risk condition and have a clear title to the vessel.
“We know that for a number of reasons some boat owners are unable or unwilling to maintain their vessels,” Boating and Waterways Derelict Vessel Removal and Prevention Unit Leader Capt. Travis Franklin said. “These boats then become derelict or at-risk of becoming derelict. This is a concern because they pose hazards to public safety and the environment, are costly to remove, and can produce criminal liability for the owner. This is where the VTIP program comes in.”
At-risk criteria include a vessel taking on water without an effective way to dewater; spaces meant to be enclosed remaining open to the elements; the vessel listing due to water intrusion or the vessel has or may break loose from its anchor and the vessel is tied to an unlawful or unpermitted structure or mooring.
“FWC makes every effort to work with the vessel owners to have them either remove the vessel from state waters themselves or return it to non-derelict status to minimize the cost to taxpayers,” FWC spokesperson Bradley Johnson wrote in a May email to The Sun. “There is a difference between a vessel that is derelict and a vessel that is at-risk of becoming derelict. It is much less expensive to remove an at-risk vessel than it is to remove one already rendered derelict.”
A derelict vessel is any vessel that is left in a wrecked, junked, or substantially dismantled condition upon waters of the state.
The FWC is actively taking applications from at-risk vessel owners for the Vessel Turn-In Program. Vessel owners can call VTIP specialists at the FWC for more information on the program at 850-488-5600 or visit the VTIP website at MyFWC.com/boating and click on “Vessel Turn-In Program.”
