Boat owners have been urged to ensure their vessels are properly registered and maintained as a charity prepares to launch an island-wide survey next week to assess their status.

Keep Bermuda Beautiful also urged owners to make arrangements for the removal of vessels that pose environmental, navigational or safety concerns.

It comes as the charity, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, prepares to launch the next phase of its abandoned and derelict vessel programme.

KBB said it had spent more than $250,00 since the project started in 2022, to remove 102 abandoned vessels.

Angel Smith, executive director of KBB, said: “Abandoned vessels can have a lasting impact on Bermuda’s marine environment, from creating navigational hazards to damaging sensitive marine habitats and releasing pollutants into the water.

“This survey is an important step in identifying vessels before they become more serious environmental and public safety concerns, and gives owners an opportunity to address vessels that may have fallen into disrepair before they become a greater environmental or navigational concern.”

Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, said: “This initiative reflects the value of collaboration between Government, the charitable sector and the wider community in protecting Bermuda’s waterways.

“By identifying and addressing abandoned vessels early, we can reduce the risk of costly recoveries following storms and help preserve the safe and responsible use of our marine environment for residents and visitors alike.”

The charity said that after the survey is completed, vessels identified as “potentially abandoned” may be included in a government notice and published in the Official Gazette.

Once gazetted, a 30-day period will be provided for owners or authorised parties to remove or otherwise regularise the vessel in accordance with boat registration and mooring requirements.

The charity encouraged owners of vessels that may be considered abandoned to act promptly.

In addition to the month-long period, boat owners may choose to voluntarily surrender a vessel to the Government to dispose of it at no cost and without penalty, by completing a removal and disposal of abandoned vessel consent form, which can be found at www.gov.bm.

The option is intended to help boat owners resolve end-of-life vessels responsibly and avoid the risks that come with leaving a boat to deteriorate in the marine environment.

Owners were encouraged to contact a boatyard or marine contractor for assistance in removal and disposal of unwanted vessels.

The charity said each removal varies in complexity depending on the vessel’s size, condition and location, with removal costs ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per vessel.

It said the removal work is funded solely by individual and corporate donors.

Amy Shillingford, the KBB’s lead for the project, said: “Removing abandoned and derelict vessels can be a complex process that requires careful planning, specialist equipment and resources to ensure removals are carried out safely and with minimal environmental impact.

“This public-private-charity partnership is critical in helping us to take action against this environmental problem and to nurture responsible boat owners of the future.”

The charity encouraged boat owners to contact the Boats and Moorings Section of the Department of Marine and Ports Services via e-mail at boatsandmoorings@gov.bm or call 444-1221 or 246-8222 to ensure their registrations remain valid and compliant with regulatory requirements.

Members of the public may report vessels that are sunk, grounded, wrecked or otherwise appear abandoned by sending an e-mail to cleanup@kbb.bm.