They had that boat at the marina for years. What is all this where's Waldo...who owns the boat? They know who owns it, charge them for the clean-up, not the taxpayer.
A salvage crew successfully righted and refloated Thursday a 41-foot trawler abandoned along the banks of the Savannah River.
"It's tied up at our docks right now," said Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus. "They got it floating again and towed it upstream."
The Net Web, a partially refurbished shrimp boat once moored at the Augusta marina, had been leaking diesel fuel. A U.S. Coast Guard crew brought in contractors who completed a $20,000 cleanup operation this week in which 1,500 gallons of diesel were removed from the vessel's two tanks, she said.
Early Thursday, Savannah-based Towboat USA used inflatable balloons placed beneath the vessel to lift and refloat it.
It was moved downstream from the marina last year before one of the boat races and abandoned by its owner.
Bonitatibus said the Augusta Dive Team has expressed an interest in adopting the boat if it is usable.
"Whoever can cover the cost of what we're paying to remove it can have it," she said.
The removal cost is about $2,500.
Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
They had that boat at the marina for years. What is all this where's Waldo...who owns the boat? They know who owns it, charge them for the clean-up, not the taxpayer.
I agree with catfish20, where is alw enforecemnt over this? This boat is traceable to someone, taht person should be under arrest at this very moment for this crime.
If my outboard engine leaves a slight oil sheen on the water, I am responsible for a spill. I just can't believe the tone of all these articles is not on locating the owner of this vessel.
Is someone being protected from prosecution?
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