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Owners of derelict vessels in SCB Harbour given 60 days for their removal

- failure to remove would result in the vessels being disposed
Some of the vessels identified in the Official Gazette and ordered removed from the Sea Cows Bay Harbour within 60 days. Photos: Official Gazette
The Sea Cows Bay Harbour remains littered with derelict and abandoned vessels, nearly eight years after the destructive hurricanes of 2017, Irma and Maria, struck the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
The Sea Cows Bay Harbour remains littered with derelict and abandoned vessels, nearly eight years after the destructive hurricanes of 2017, Irma and Maria, struck the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Two derelict vessels removed from the Sea Cows Bay Harbour by Nanny Cay Resort & Marina early in 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Two derelict vessels removed from the Sea Cows Bay Harbour by Nanny Cay Resort & Marina early in 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- The Sea Cows Bay Harbour remains littered with derelict and abandoned vessels, nearly eight years after the destructive hurricanes of 2017, Irma and Maria, struck the Virgin Islands.

It seems, however, that finally something is being done to rid the community of the eyesore.

Published in the Official Gazette on May 1, 2025, owners of vessels partially sunk in the Sea Cows Bay area and deemed a hazard were told to remove the vessels within two months or they would be disposed of.

“The owner(s) must raise and remove the vessels from the location within 60 days of the publication of notice in the BVI Gazette.

“Failure to comply with this notice will result in the Receiver taking possession of the vessel and disposing of the vessel in accordance with section 33B of the Disaster Management Act,” according to the wording in the Official Gazette.

‘It’s really beyond horrible looking’- Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE

It was in April 2024, that the then Deputy Speaker and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) had expressed frustration that nearly 7 years since hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the VI, hundreds of destroyed vessels remained in the harbours across the territory.

Speaking at the Continuation of the Ninth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on April 9, 2024, Hon Smith further disclosed that the issue was not about finance, as the money is there, but bureaucracy was the main obstacle.

While commending Nanny Cay Resort and Marina for salvaging two boats from the Sea Cows Bay Harbour, Hon Smith said such projects have to go through a process that is likely to involve the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry and that a Request for Proposal (RFP) needs to be prepared.

Hon Smith; however, could not say who had to prepare the RFP and why this was not yet done.

“The hurricanes were 2017 and you look down everywhere, in front of Village Cay, go right around to Nanny Cay, you go up to East End, all over, and the place is a mess. It’s really beyond horrible looking. We have to fix this country and whoever has to prepare this Request for Proposal, whether it is the Ministry of Finance, or whoever, we have to get it done,” Hon Smith had said.

12 Responses to “Owners of derelict vessels in SCB Harbour given 60 days for their removal”

  • BRAD BOYNES (20/05/2025, 12:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I want the job to dispose of them.
  • Marty Probasco (20/05/2025, 12:07) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most of these vessels are owned by whom? Ill just rest this here.
    • @Marty (20/05/2025, 12:29) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      And majority prob been packed up and shipped out of the BVI, so guess who's tax payers dollars goin toward this effort now. tsk tsk
      • One Moon (20/05/2025, 13:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@marty. Once you pa tax that money now becomes the government's. Go figure.
  • annudda2cents (20/05/2025, 13:10) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hurricane season begins in less than two weeks and we're here dilly dally on this matter that is going on eight years. EIGHT YEARS. Solution. If the owners of these vessels do not deal with their mess, leave an outstanding fine that must be paid before a license or permission to operate in the Virgin Islands is granted to them or renewed.
  • Real Talk (20/05/2025, 13:20) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let nagico and carribbean insurance foot the bill the titles of these vessle were handed over to them once the check was process real talk
  • Cynic (20/05/2025, 13:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great - a start maybe. What about the Mayflower that the government paid to have deposited on Road Reef and all the other vessels in Road Harbour?
  • problem (20/05/2025, 14:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    is most derelict vessels in the BVI have no owners. Many were owned by companies that dissolved shortly after Irma or were struck off. Either way nothing will happen until the UK or the BVI government PAYS a wreck remover to remove and dispose of all these ugly wrecks.
  • rudebwoy (20/05/2025, 15:24) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its been 8 years!!! Why are we STILL giving them 60 days??? Do we really think they will move them in 60 days when they haven't been moved in 8 years???? Come on now!!!
  • What money? (20/05/2025, 16:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the money coming from to remove these vessels? And, how will they be disposed of? Broken up and sent to Pockwood?
  • BuzzBvi (20/05/2025, 17:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is one relic that needs moving out of sea cows bay.
  • about time (20/05/2025, 18:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it is going to take some of my tax dollars to remove this eyesore then so be it.Sea Cows Bay looks like one big nasty eyesore with all those abandon boats. The most shameful part is the Deputy Premier lives in that District. It is time they clean up nasty and embarrassing
    looking Sea Cows Bay.


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