Teams to remove derelict boats from Charleston waterways

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – An effort will get underway Monday to remove several abandoned boats from Charleston waterways.

It is part of a joint effort between Wounded Nature-Working Veterans, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Charleston County Service Department, Charleston County Landfill, and local law enforcement to remove and destroy three derelict boats to clean up local waters.

The groups will pull several boats at the Limehouse Boat Ramp and destroy them there.

Leading the effort is Wounded Nature-Working Veterans, a nonprofit organization that assembles volunteer boars and veterans to help remove debris from hard-to-reach coastal areas.

They have helped remove over 200 abandoned boats along the South Carolina coast.

Abandoned boats are a common problem for the coastal environment with the often damaged and neglected vessels directly impacting marsh and marine habitat, posing risk by obstructing navigational channels.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has worked with federal, state, and local partners on abandoned vessel removal projects across the South Carolina coast, including Monday’s effort.

You can help by quickly and easily reporting abandoned vessels through the MyCoast South Carolina Boats reporting tool on mycoast.org.