Here's how NC leaders fund the removal of derelict boats along the coastline

The images coming out of Florida following the devastation of Hurricane Ian often serve as a reminder of just how devastating storms can be for other hurricane-prone states like North Carolina.

The pictures of boats tossed around canals, rivers and marinas around Florida are not unlike what North Carolina saw after Hurricane Florence in 2018.

The vessel, which is named the Shayna Michelle, belongs to Holden Beach Seafood, and crew members were trying to get home to Holden Beach, N.C., before Ian's landfall.

Aside from being an eyesore, vessels that wash ashore like the Shayna Michelle can pose a big threat to the environment and everyone who enjoys the water.

“Removing these vessels is very important not just for the chemical hazards aspect, but that’s debris that’s being left out in the environment,” said Sarah Bodin, who works as a coastal restoration specialist at North Carolina Coastal Federation. “With every major storm or tidal event, that boat is just going to break up, so it’s important to get out of the waterway.

“It’s a navigation hazard, and it doesn’t look great for people visiting the area who want to see a clean Crystal Coast.”

Last year, the North Carolina Coastal Federation began working to remove several abandoned and rundown boats along the coast. So far, the North Carolina Coastal Federation along with numerous partners, including local sheriff’s offices, the Coast Guard and a Marine contractor have removed around 100 boats, with several more still to go this year.

“We received funding, fortunately, from several different grant sources and the state,” Bodin said. “So, in 2021, we began our vessel removals, and we’ve just been chugging away for a good year and a half.”

Once a boat is found, the team from Mainstream Commercial Divers goes out and beings the work to remove the derelict boats.

“Doing a project in North Carolina where we can see the fruits of our labors by removing a big pile of debris or a vessel that’s been sitting there for a while,” said the company’s business manager Richard Coley. “It’s kind of a point of pride for me personally, and my crew really enjoys this work.”

Coley enjoys the problem-solving aspect of his job.

“You’re out there you know like, ‘How do we get this one off?’ And, every one is different,” Coley said.

Coley said his company uses roller bags to get a boat out of the mud and marsh areas.

“A big part of it is trying to figure out how we can do it in an environmentally-friendly way,” Coley said. “There are a lot of sensitive areas around here with marsh grass and protected estuaries, and we do our best to try and minimize any damage to the environment while we’re doing it.”

While each boat that is pulled out of the water is different, officials said it can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to remove most boats. For larger vessels, it can cost more than $80,000 to remove.