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VI Marine sector an eyesore; filled with sunken & abandoned boats

Many abandoned boats at the Virgin Islands (VI) marinas Photo: Team of Reporters
Running raw sewerage can be seen adjacent Village Cay on Wickham's Cay I today, Sunday, March 11, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters
Running raw sewerage can be seen adjacent Village Cay on Wickham's Cay I today, Sunday, March 11, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters
Fishing area on Wickham's Cay I can be seen with abandoned boats. Photo: Team of Reporters
Fishing area on Wickham's Cay I can be seen with abandoned boats. Photo: Team of Reporters
Half sunken boats filled with water, growing sea moss and seaweed can be seen adjacent to Village Cay. Photo: Team of Reporters
Half sunken boats filled with water, growing sea moss and seaweed can be seen adjacent to Village Cay. Photo: Team of Reporters
Broken docks can be seen throughout all the Marinas on Tortola and the sister islands. Photo: Team of Reporters
Broken docks can be seen throughout all the Marinas on Tortola and the sister islands. Photo: Team of Reporters
Many abandoned boats at the Virgin Islands (VI) marinas. Photo: Team of Reporters
Many abandoned boats at the Virgin Islands (VI) marinas. Photo: Team of Reporters
Abandoned vessels in the Sea Cows Bay harbour following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Photo: Team of Reporters
Abandoned vessels in the Sea Cows Bay harbour following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Photo: Team of Reporters
 More abandoned vessels in the Sea Cows Bay harbour following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Photo: Team of Reporters
More abandoned vessels in the Sea Cows Bay harbour following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Photo: Team of Reporters
The Mayflower remains in the position Hurricane Irma put it in at the Waterfront in Road Town, Tortola, over five months ago. Photo: VINO/File
The Mayflower remains in the position Hurricane Irma put it in at the Waterfront in Road Town, Tortola, over five months ago. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The ravages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria can still be seen and felt all over the Virgin Islands (VI).

The Territory has long been known for being the sailing capital of the world, however, following the two killer storms in September 2017 many of the marinas, boating stocks including yachts, barges, ferry boats, other large vessels and power boats have sunk, were damaged and even disappeared at sea.

The eyesore of abandoned boats

Throughout many of the islands the unsightly presence of boats battered close to shore, others filled with seawater, half sunk while growing sea moss along with seaweeds, others completely destroyed by the powerful winds of a category five hurricane and still others even on land, on reefs or in shallow seawater just left abandoned.

As one goes through all the Marinas on Tortola and the sister islands, the unsightly eyesore is the same, with broken marina docks some filled with large holes, severely damaged and smashed pleasure and charter yachts and other vessels sunk and filled with water while many barges are left in mangroves, some up on land and others just the same place that both Hurricanes Irma and Maria placed them in September of 2017.

Eyesore adjacent to Village Cay

It was today, Sunday, March 11, 2018 that our roving camera was called at a location adjacent to Village Cay, on Wickham’s Cay I where the government has an area designated for fisherfolks.

We saw many abandoned and sunken boats, sewerage still running in what is left of the mangroves and open sea along with many of the docks broken and in disrepair, as a results of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The situation is the same all over the Territory, especially, in places like the Sea Cows Bay Habour, Beef Island, West End, Nanny Cay, Pariquita Bay on Tortola, and places on Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke.

It is not clear what is government's policy towards the clean up of the Marine Industry, outside of some public announcements from the Shipping Registry asking owners to come forward to retrieve their boats and vessels.

Or is it left up to the private Marina owners to do their own clear up and boat removal, however, many of the abandoned boats, yachts and barges are in public spaces and on government roadways, land and beaches.

What about the environment?

Many of the boats, and other abandoned vessels also pose an environmental challenge as oil from these crafts can leak at sea, causing serious issues for the VI's already fragile environment and eco-system.

As of publication time, efforts to reach the Director of Communications, Mrs Arliene T. Penn as to the government's plan to address abandoned boats, barges and other vessels were unsuccessful.

36 Responses to “VI Marine sector an eyesore; filled with sunken & abandoned boats”

  • bvi (11/03/2018, 18:42) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bvi an eye sore .
    Filled with desperation , pain , abandonment and homeless folks .
    • @Bvi an eye sore (11/03/2018, 23:29) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
      Everything can be accomplished and much further along with genuine cooperation among each other, but our BVI is full of dark hearts who rather keep you down than build you up and we wonder why and how we are in the state we are.
    • the rock (12/03/2018, 08:35) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
      And so what we just came out of two catogary 5 hurricanes, why the rush to get back what took over 75yrs to build, its head lines like this that does piss me off!
      • Hmmmm (13/03/2018, 07:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Take a trip to st Thomas and count how many damaged or sunken boats do you see
  • See (11/03/2018, 18:46) Like (46) Dislike (1) Reply
    A national disgrace . Junk boats from Hurricane Earl in 2010 still embarassing our country . Guess a lot depends on what your last name is . Stop the nonsense and stop making excuses for people . SMH
  • Not2Sure (11/03/2018, 18:48) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    Well I guess we need the loan money to clean up the place
  • TurtleDove (11/03/2018, 19:19) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thanks for bringing this to light vino it's a sad sad situation this government does not care period
  • BVI Patriot (11/03/2018, 19:36) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Government please! !!!
  • Common Sense (11/03/2018, 20:40) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    What y'all want people do? Fix a boat before they fix their house? People still living without roofs over their heads; make it worse, they still living with other people whether that be family or strangers. Pun intended: When people right their ship with their living situation, then I'm sure they'll fix the eye sore.
    • Tourist (11/03/2018, 21:56) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Itd been 6 months and the place looks a mess. Why at these people not cleaning up their country?
      • Binocs (12/03/2018, 09:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        Alas, because most people don’t care. They did not before the hurricanes and don’t care now. They fail to see that preserving the natural beauty of the islands is money in the bank. People will pay fortunes to go to unspoiled places, and over time, there are fewer and fewer such places. Govt waste management policies are appalling. For example, if everyone who imported a boat or car had to pay a waste disposal fee at the time of importation, there would be funding (I know, if the funds were properly managed) to dispose of these items when they reach the end of their useful lives.
    • @ Common Sense (11/03/2018, 22:39) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Then maybe we should have left the road ways as is on september 7 last year until the roofs are all on so silly
    • See (11/03/2018, 22:52) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
      Most people who own these boats are hardly not well off . Stop making excuses for people who just dont give a crap about our country. Clean up your mess !! You have the money to buy the damn boat ... deal with it and dont expect everyone elsr to take car of your luxury. Should have had insurance ... make it a law . Enough of this damn bullsh - - !!!!!!!
  • chad (11/03/2018, 20:42) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply

    Bird santuary for migrating birds destroyed one in village cay and Manuel reef seacows bay boat filled with diesel .oil and gas under water environment disaster not waiting to happened done happen or neighbours the usvi already clean up all three islands and we still here playing the a$$ or I'd is it green greed it pains my heart to see what my country has come too let us get moving and preserved what's left

  • My girl (11/03/2018, 22:40) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    I love me some vino always shining light where there is darkness
  • Once a pride of the Caribbean (11/03/2018, 23:13) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look at us now. We are becoming professional beggars with a whole lot of excuses for why we can’t do better.

    Nature has a way of exposing us to what’s real; how we need to live, and what we need to cherish in/for each other.

    This planet is our home. It’s the only one we know. The Virgin Islands are this part of the planet we call home. A home is where we should experience: LOVE, security, comfort, care, cleanliness, and peace, but if we continue to exercise wickedness, divisions, uncaring, and hatred towards each other- I’m afraid we bound to repeat these lessons until they are learned.

    Mother Nature is only reflecting the state of our past and present “being”- inside and out.

    Let’s clean up our homes- inside and out- spiritually, mentally, and physically- for what we put in is exactly what Mother Nature will give us back.

    “As above, so below.” “As within, so without.” Enough said.

  • well it seems like (12/03/2018, 00:23) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    sea cow bay is the official dumping ground?????
  • yo think it's fair? (12/03/2018, 00:38) Like (11) Dislike (19) Reply
    that these white people brought their boats here, made money, lived rent-free, $hit up in our harbors and left these junks here for we to pick up after they collected the insurance money?
    • Sailor (13/03/2018, 11:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Seriously? You are making this a skin colour issue? Only white people own boats? Please lose the racism and come up with something constructive.
  • LET'S MAKE IT A BAR (12/03/2018, 00:45) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    IS THE MAYFLOWER A TOURIST ATTRACTION?
  • @ Once a pride of the Caribbean (12/03/2018, 01:38) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don’t forget home also should be a place of joy and happiness that should overshadow any pain. Where is the love for mankind and our environment? We have lost our way.
    • what if (12/03/2018, 07:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Could barges assist in cleaning up the trash on the island. We just need to figure where to send the barges once we load them up.
  • SCB (12/03/2018, 01:55) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply

    What about the 2 big barges washed ashore in Sea Cows Bay? I was told belonging to EBH. Guess he can't do much from his present "residence"? God forbid, but another hurricane could push them totally on to land

    • Eyesore and more (12/03/2018, 09:51) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      They are destroying the mangroves and the natural Eco system of SCB. Not to forget the dirty laundry water flowing into the water there.
    • what if (12/03/2018, 16:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Do they float? Next item needed is a decent tug. Will also need location to deliver trash and debris. If done properly, recycling is possible. Could the British government assist financially. A clean island is a healthy island. A healthy island yields a healthy people.
  • Boo (12/03/2018, 04:44) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    This going kill one of our major sectors come on we need a charge in government Now
    • @Boo. U R right (12/03/2018, 07:54) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      The change u seek is in the hands of the back benchers..Government can do more to help the clean up. Ooh. What is Government doing to assist?
    • wize up (12/03/2018, 08:47) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ Boo: What about your people without adequate shelter.....you sound just like rest of them whoes primary focus is to make the visitors experience a wonderful one while our own people have to take a back seat(I personally think it’s wrong...feel free to have your say)...
  • wize up (12/03/2018, 05:09) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    those of us with damaged motor car had to comply however the pleasure boats still all over the place.....
  • Lord o (12/03/2018, 07:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Something is difinenely wrong. This industry is very important to the BVI... Cant say exactly what it IS....it certainly aint looking good.. It looks even worst at Whelks point Pariquita Bay and Trellis bay. The main issue seems to be finance..No insurance or late insurance settlement. Getting these boats to dry dock and back in the wstee is a very expensive venture,.. We should have gotten a report from the environment minister on this matter. What lesson we learn. Boats in the water should be treated like vehicle on land..Must be license and have insurance and be policed..
  • voter (12/03/2018, 07:57) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is sad we need to go the polls
    • wize up (12/03/2018, 10:14) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ voters: sound like you seeking to cast blame.the current condition in our country was as a result of two hurricanes: open your eyes the devastation facing our country was an act of nature(God’s work)...going back to the polls will do what?: this is the time for all of us to put heads together and fix our territory not point fingers(hurricane season is right back here; stop the talk)...this place now have more devastation that money(it’s is not business as usual..we got hit hard by 2 hurricanes)
  • Chris (12/03/2018, 08:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    They didn't go to leverick bay as that is all cleaned up ,ready for poker run, and pirates at Norman has been clean since December.
  • Concerned (12/03/2018, 09:39) Like (1) Dislike (19) Reply
    Unfortunately, it cost a lot of money to pull out a boat. Anywhere from $10,000 up. I heard one person was quoted $40,000. Puts some on the spot financially
  • ------------------ (13/03/2018, 00:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    thanks vino I have observed the same things


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