The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and its partners continue working to clean Gulf Coast waters, announcing Monday that 18 abandoned ships have been removed from the state’s shoreline over the past year.
MDMR, in coordination with the Gulf of America Alliance and support from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Marine Debris Program, began removing abandoned and derelict vessels – in short, referred to as ADVs – in summer 2024. To date, nine vessels each from Harrison and Hancock counties have successfully been removed.
The removals account for approximately 411,000 pounds of debris cleared from coastal waters. The vessels varied in type and materials, including sailboats, fishing vessels, houseboats, and recreational crafts made of steel, wood, fiberglass, and aluminum.
The ongoing efforts to clean up the coast increase boater safety, restore water flow, and enhance local habitats, according to a release from MDMR.
“An important benefit of removing an ADV is eliminating the danger it poses to boaters navigating in unknown waters or during limited visibility. Their GPS will now show that there is an obstruction ahead, and vessels hitting submerged or partially submerged objects is a major factor in vessel accidents,” a portion of the release reads.
“Beyond improving safety, ADV removal also restores natural water flow and supports healthier ecosystems.”
Roy Lipscomb, who coordinates MDMR’s Mississippi Derelict Vessel Program, said local citizens played a role in identifying where abandoned ships were that needed to be removed.
“When they are included in the vessel removal process, they feel ownership, pride, and will become better stewards of their local waterways, parks, and wilderness areas,” he explained.
Lipscomb added that the biggest benefit of removing abandoned vessels is allowing small waterways to flow freely again: “I have seen ADVs blocking most of a canal or bayou, then debris, logs, and aquatic plants start to clog the waterway and basically stop the water movement.”
