As summer comes into full swing, more people are getting out into the water on their boats ” and sometimes leaving them behind. The problem of abandoned boats is growing across the popular boating spots along the coast, but especially in Mission Bay, where, San Diego Lifeguard Service says, the situation is worsening due to the closing of a free anchorage in south San Diego Bay.
The A-8 Anchorage near Chula Vista allowed many people to keep their boats for a considerable amount of time at no cost. However, a large number of people were living on their boats without the means to properly maintain them, creating an eyesore and an environmental hazard through the human and mechanical waste dumped overboard. The San Diego Harbor Police, wanting to clean the area up, consequently closed the anchorage, leaving many people to find an alternate location.
No similar location exists in San Diego, and the resulting necessity of having to move the boats around often surpasses the seafaring capabilities of the vessels. Due to the significant cost of salvaging, many people have simply left them on public land and water.
The responsibility for clearing the boats is then left up to the San Diego Lifeguards, who impound the boats for 90 days, and then either auction off the boats or destroy them. However, this presents an additional burden that detracts from the lifeguards’ capabilities to protect users of the water.
“There is a significant amount of manpower involved,” said Sgt. Bob Albers of the San Diego Lifeguards.
He said it’s a daily effort to check the water for abandoned boats. The department patrols Mission Bay every night for boats that are left either floating in the water or left on land. Often, these vessels are also sinking, presenting hazards to boat users.
The other problem faced by lifeguards is the abandonment of boats on existing Mission Bay anchorages. Current laws stipulate that a vessel may only remain in Mission Bay for 72 hours before it is impounded. Afterward, its registration numbers are checked and the owners are contacted by mail.
Due to the nature of boat abandonment, however, the situation rarely improves. Most often, people simply do not have a permanent address because of financial situations or, as Albers noted, they are involved with drug running and smuggling from Mexico and other countries. Other times, the owners heed the warning and move the boat for 24 hours, then return it back to the original location ” only to repeat the process.
“It’s a constant cat-and-mouse game with them,” Albers said.
Currently, a committee of lifeguards, coast guards and other officials is trying to designate an offshore salvaging area. Unfortunately, this would only decrease slightly the enormous cost that comes from the requirement that all destroyed vessels be first rid of oil and gas, not to mention the financial consequences of removing and storing the boats. At this time, boats deemed unable to safely operate and beyond repair are crushed and taken to the Miramar Landfill.
The San Diego Lifeguards are concerned that the situation shows no sign of abatement, but hope that people will take greater care of their boats if the issue is brought to light.
For more information, visit www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards. n