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
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) has halted the dredging of Lower Newport Bay and construction authorization for the City of Newport Beach’s (the city’s) Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) facility. The Corps put things on hold after Orange County Coastkeeper (Coastkeeper) filed a lawsuit challenging their failure to fully analyze actions possibly violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA).
So, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
On May 23, the City Council approved a pilot program to change the harbor mooring fields configuration and approved changes to the Harbor Code to accommodate the proposed pilot program and the long-term plan for all the moorings in the harbor.
Speak Up Newport is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, June 14 to discuss the mooring plan with guest speaker Bill Kenney, the former Harbor Commission Chair. He will describe the Harbor Commission’s Open Water Initiative and the reasons for the changes to the mooring fields.
The valves, which were built in the 1970s to replace a system from the early 1900s, are necessary to prevent flooding in low-lying areas. They are manually operated, and need to be closed during high tides to prevent seawater from flooding the streets. Once the tide recedes, crews reopen the valves — nearly 90 in total — to allow water to flow from streets to the bay.
City Council this week unanimously approved a pilot project, called the open water initiative, related to mooring field design.
Councilmembers voted 7-0 on Tuesday (May 23) in support of the ordinance that would amend Title 17 (the city’s harbor code) related to mooring standards and permits. The approved action, stemming from Harbor Commission recommendations, will reconfigure mooring field C, which sits between Bay Island and the Balboa Peninsula ferry station.
Share this entry