REPORT UPDATE — Abandoned and Derelict Vessels
A follow-up status of two significant derelict vessels, both of which were removed from the harbor last week.
I am pleased to report that “New Beginnings”, a 1972 Hatteras 56’, which was known as a problematic vessel in several Southern California harbors, was dismantled and removed from Newport Harbor last Friday, January 16th. During its dubious final stay in Newport Harbor, it racked up more than $50K in fines and fees. The cost to have the vessel and its hazardous contents removed was more than $30K. It’s unlikely another harbor would have dealt with this situation as swiftly and completely as we have. Other harbors don’t have the laws/codes, resources, and focus on the potential for situations like this to devolve so thoroughly.
New Beginnings – Dismantled
The vessel “Haven” was also removed permanently from the harbor last week after a lengthy and complicated stay.
A foreign owner purchased the vessel about a year ago with the best of intentions for having it transported to a lake near his home in Europe and then undertaking a restoration.
Unfortunately, the owner was unfamiliar with many of the challenges associated with such a project, including but not limited to:
- How a 60+ year old, 40’ wooden boat could be transported internationally
- The boat yard that handled the inspection and was keeping the boat until transport arrived wanted to be paid and the boat removed so the space could be freed up for other work
- Aside: the boat yard eventually asked the Harbor Department to execute an impound to have the vessel removed from their premises
- There were costs associated with continuing to store the boat here in Newport Harbor, as arrangements were made to transport it
- Registration and insurance requirements associated with storing a boat in Newport Harbor
- Operability requirements associated with storing a boat in Newport Harbor
All this to say, the owner quickly gave up on the project and left the situation for us to deal with.
In this case, we were able to recoup a portion of the costs for removal and destruction from the owner who abandoned the vessel.
There is one other significant vessel in our sights at the moment. The boat is in impound with us, and we have just initiated the process to declare the boat abandoned.
The registered owner has claimed for several months that he is prepared to retrieve it and have it brought into compliance with harbor requirements.
However, the boat yard with which he has been in negotiations just last week informed us they are no longer willing to do business with the owner.
We will move forward as quickly as legally allowed with the eventual removal of this vessel as well.
Warm regards,
Paul Blank
Harbormaster
Harbor Department
City of Newport Beach
If you’re out and about on Newport Harbor on Sunday afternoon, July 16, you may see dozens of sailboats racing around the harbor. Give them plenty of room and cheer them on—it’s the 87th Annual Flight of Newport Beach, presented by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce with assistance from the Balboa Yacht Club.
It’s hard to believe that Thursday, July 6 will mark nine years since the passing of Newport Beach Lifeguard Ben Carlson. He was special to so many people, as his unexpected and untimely death would prove.
On that Sunday, in 2014, shortly after 5 p.m., a Newport Beach rescue boat identified a swimmer in distress off 16th Street. The surf at the time was six-to-eight feet.
Ben, as everyone knew, entered the water to make that rescue and swam to the man, making contact, before they were both hit by an unexpected large wave. The swimmer Ben was attempting to rescue was successfully pulled from the water, but Ben was not.
Newport Beach scored high marks during the summer season in the 33rd Annual Heal the Bay Beach Report Card, released Wednesday, June 14.
Of the 36 Newport Beach bay and ocean testing sites listed in the report, 32 earned an A or A+ during the summer season, when the beaches are most frequented. Four sites earned a B grade. Heal the Bay’s annual report measures bacterial pollution for more than 700 West Coast beaches, from Washington to Baja, ranking them and grading their water quality from A to F.
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