Port Moody cracks down on derelict boats

The City of Port Moody is cracking down on neglected, abandoned and derelict boats today.

At 9 a.m. the city intends to begin removing any boats still moored in its newly created Designated Anchorage Area, which went into effect, July 18.

The city has been removing illegal boats from the Port Moody Inlet over the last two years. 

Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay says the move comes after years of planning including consultation with residents and boat owners.

"We had a lot of complaints from owners, some of whom would send me pictures of people living in their boats, people throwing garbage into the water, of boats sinking, and boats that were washing up on the shore," said Clay.

He says navigation also became increasingly cumbersome for rowers and sailors with more and more boats being anchored in the inlet.

But without jurisdiction over the Inlet, the city didn't have a say in what to do with some of the more delinquent boats. 

"We spent the last two and a half years trying to track down the owners of these boats, and have them removed for safety and environmental concerns," he said.

Giving the city more jurisdiction

So with the help of the Port of Vancouver, the city started a Designated Anchorage Area pilot project, giving it jurisdiction over an area on the water.

All boats moored in the DAA will now need to be insured, registered and permitted with the city in order to be docked there. 

"The city wants to know who the owners of these boats are and to make sure that they have insurance, so if they cause any damage or wash up on the shore, we can identify the owners," Clay said.

Clay says through pictures, the city established that some of the boats were coming from False Creek after the City of Vancouver began the permitting process there. 

"Some of them are absolutely derelict ... there was one with the entire hull rotted and was falling apart and starting to sink ... some had serious integrity issues," he said.

Clay says the 12 boats that were removed from the Inlet were in dire condition.

He says about 17 boats have already been removed from the Inlet and any remaining boats in the DAA will be towed by the city today.  There have been more than 30 other boats in the Inlet that were or are being moved by owners who have chosen to take their boats elsewhere. 

Clay says hopefully some of them will have repairs done. 

According to the City of Port Moody, now that the area is being cleared, the permitting system says:

• No anchoring is allowed outside of the DAA
• When boaters want to stay overnight, they must register with the city for a DAA permit.
• Boats can be anchored for up to 21 nights during a 40-day period.
• Boaters may extend their stay in the Inlet by moving to a marina or other permitted location after their allowable anchorage time has expired.

Boat owners and operators within the DAA must also sign a DAA permit contract and pay a $500 deposit and a $12 per night fee.