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
Hello friends of the Newport Harbor Foundation,
There is an urgent issue we need a little help with… something that impacts one of our favorite local playgrounds – the Newport Harbor.
After years of lobbying the federal government for help, the City of Newport Beach has obtained grants of almost $16 million to pay for dredging of the harbor which will significantly enhance the quality of water and create safer boat passage in the harbor. Along with the dredging process, there is a process called CAD (contained aquatic disposal) which places unsuitable material now existing in the harbor into a safe and secure location deep below the harbor bed. This process is totally safe and has been used for many years all over the country, including harbors in California.
By Phillip Palmer
ABC Eyewitness News, Los Angeles
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) — Keeping garbage out of the ocean isn’t easy. So enter Mr. Trash Wheel, the 70-square-foot barge gobbling up garbage by the ton to keep the beach and ocean pristine.
Trash in the streets ends up in the river and then from the river, the ocean.
Hoping to reduce the amount of trash making it to the ocean, Newport Beach is set to become the first west coast city to use a water wheel system to scoop up trash headed toward Upper Newport Bay.
“We really need to knock that trash load down. This is not going to be a silver bullet, it’s not going to get everything, but it’s going to get a big slug of stuff,” said John Kappeler, a senior engineer for the city of Newport Beach.
By Matt Morrison
For a generation of youngsters who grew up around the Newport Harbor, there’s a legacy to perpetuate. OK, maybe they’re only considered youngsters on a geologic scale, yet together they’ve accumulated decades of passion for the fabulous waterway central to our community. The goal now is to preserve it for generations to come.
We might compare it to fixing up a stately landmark home; the curb appeal is still magnificent but the bones need attention. Dennis Durgan can certainly relate to the analogy.
A residential real estate professional in the community for more than four decades, Durgan grew up on the harbor, beginning in the early 1960’s when it was a seasonal recreation destination. He learned to sail here, then went on to crew in three America’s Cup competitions working with both Ted Turner and Dennis Connor. Now it’s a cause for the future, and not just his own.
“There are numerous issues the harbor has, and will continue to have, as we move forward. There’s more and more people that want to use it,” Durgan explains. “I used to call it the sandbox. Well, the sandbox is overflowing with kids that want to play.”
“With all of their toys…” chimes in Val Lyon, like Durgan, a board member of the Newport Harbor Foundation, established in 2019.
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