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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Marine Construction & Dredging

According to the FWC, currently there are about 12,000 derelict vessels in Florida.

The average cost to taxpayers to remove derelect vessels is about $7,000. However, the cost can go as high as $250,000, as recently happened with an abandoned barge in Jacksonville.

The abandoned barge was left in front of Queens Harbor off Atlantic Boulevard in Jacksonville. Apparently the owner had been tracked down by the FWC, criminal charges had been brought against him, and he fled the country.

The steel barge needed to be cut into pieces and hauled out piece by piece. It had sat in place so long that it could no longer be re-floated.