by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
BILOXI (GG) — The Gulf of America Alliance, in coordination with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), recently supported work to remove 18 vessels as part of an ongoing large-scale project across the Gulf Coast. This project is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.
As part of this effort, abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) removal in Mississippi began in the summer of 2024, with nine vessels each from Hancock and Harrison counties successfully removed to date. These removals account for approximately 411,000 pounds of debris cleared from coastal waters. The vessels varied widely in type and material, including sailing boats, fishing vessels, houseboats and recreational crafts made of steel, wood, fiberglass and aluminum.
The state’s removal efforts are led by MDMR, which coordinates the Mississippi Derelict Vessel Program. MDMR identifies and monitors ADVs, implements the legally required steps to declare vessels as derelict when ownership cannot be confirmed and contracts for their safe removal. The Department can initiate litigation or other legal actions to facilitate the removal of the derelict vessel, and may remove or cause to be removed any derelict vessel, or vessel determined to be a hazard to public safety or the environment.
Collaboration between agencies enhances the project by involving local citizens, as they know the history, people and have a unique insight into the areas where they live.
In Mississippi, the ADV program is administered by the Department of Marine Resources pursuant to Title 49 of the State’s Code. These statutes and administrative codes covering abandoned and derelict vessels address liability issues, removal and disposal requirements, vessel salvage, and include penalties for people who fail to remove derelict vessels. Mississippi statues, however, do not address ADVs that are found on private property, unless it is a private canal with a navigable connection to coastal wetlands.
“When they [local citizens] are included in the vessel removal process, they feel ownership, pride and will become better stewards of their local waterways, parks and wilderness areas,” says Roy Lipscomb, MDMR’s Mississippi Derelict Vessel Program Coordinator.
An important benefit of removing an ADV is eliminating the danger it poses to boaters navigating in unknown waters or during limited visibility. Their GPS will not show that there is an obstruction ahead, and vessels hitting submerged or partially submerged objects is a major factor in vessel accidents.
Beyond improving safety, ADV removal also restores natural water flow and supports healthier ecosystems.
“The biggest benefit of the removal of an ADV in a small waterway is that the tidal flow is not impeded anymore,” shared Lipscomb. “I have seen ADVs blocking most of a canal or bayou, then debris, logs and aquatic plants start to clog the waterway and basically stop the natural water movement.”
The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources is vested with the jurisdiction and authority over the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels in the State of Mississippi, through the Department of Marine Resources.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
(Front Photo: marinedebris.noaa.gov)
