The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR) has made progress in the identification and marking of vessels for removal from the Territory.

Receiver of Wrecks and Acting Director for the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, Captain Raman Bala explained that every effort is being made by the department to determine from the owners their intention for their vessels.

He said that whilst most vessels have either been given notice in the newspapers and the Gazette or by posting stickers on them, the VISR has identified that there are some more vessels in the Territory which have not been previously identified for removal.

Captain Bala said, “Owners were and are still being requested to contact the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry and remove the vessels within 60 days from the date of notice. At the end of this notice period, we would like to remove these vessels forthwith.”

This vessel list is now published in the Gazette and is available for viewing.

Photos of approximately 300 vessels in various locations are available including their location and other information at the link: http://www.bvi.gov.vg/derelict-vessels; while 80 vessels in various locations are available including their location and other information at the link: https://flic.kr/s/aHskKTwqA4; and a list of 36 additional vessels in the western area of the island is available for viewing via the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134848302@N08/sets/72157699363928942/.

The removal of these vessels is in accordance with the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act of 2018, which was passed by the House of Assembly on July 2, 2018.

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2018 declares derelict vessels, shipwrecked or otherwise abandoned by owners following the 2017 hurricanes, to be hazards, thereby providing a way forward for the rapid removal of the abandoned or derelict vessels in the Territory whilst providing safeguards to the owners of the vessel.

Boat owners are being urged to be aware that their vessel may be included in that list and to check their vessels and newspapers and the Gazette for notices from the Government.

The Receiver of Wrecks can be contacted at the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry located at RG Hodge Plaza, 2nd Floor, Wickham’s Cay I, Road Town, Tortola. Additionally, the Receiver can be contacted via telephone at 468 9646 or via email at vishipping@gov.vg.