Derelict Vessel Cleanup Underway in Sea Cows
Works to remove 28 derelict and storm-damaged vessels from Sea Cows Bay Harbour have officially begun, the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) announced. The four-month project, awarded to a joint venture of Sandwise Ltd. and Commercial Dive Services Ltd., will lift wrecks for sorting and disposal, with environmental safeguards in place.
Works to clear long-standing derelict and storm-damaged boats from Sea Cows Bay Harbour have commenced, the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) said in a government release, and BVI News reported that removal operations are now under way. The project follows the signing of a contract on 17 November 2025 awarding the US$854,633.43 Derelict Vessels Removal & Disposal Project to a joint venture of Sandwise Ltd. and Commercial Dive Services Ltd., the RDA and Government sources confirm.
The contract runs for four months and sets out a focused programme to extract 28 abandoned and deteriorated marine vessels from the harbour — a revised figure from an earlier local media estimate of about 32 wrecks reported by VINO. Removal works are scheduled to begin each day at 7:00 a.m., with activities taking place both on the water and along the shoreline, the RDA said.
Some vessels are expected to be brought ashore to facilitate safe lifting, sorting and removal. Residents and motorists in and around Sea Cows Bay have been asked to exercise caution and to avoid heavy machinery and active work sites. Under the project plan, vessels will be lifted from the harbour and transported to a loading site in Sea Cows Bay before being moved to a designated staging and sorting area at Pockwood Pond, the Government release said.
At Pockwood Pond materials will be separated into distinct waste streams — metal, plastics, wood and fibreglass — so that each can be handled, recycled or disposed of properly. RDA Chief Executive Officer Anthony McMaster highlighted the project’s importance for navigation and coastal resilience, saying, "The removal of derelict vessels is essential for safe navigation, environmental protection, and the overall resilience of our coastal infrastructure." The RDA noted the work is being delivered by local expertise through the Sandwise and Commercial Dive Services joint venture.
Environmental safeguards will guide operations to minimise harm to seabeds, coral and other marine habitats, the agency added. Derelict and abandoned vessels have been a persistent problem in the British Virgin Islands since Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017; sunken or partially submerged boats can obstruct navigation channels, damage fragile seabeds and coral, and present spill risks that threaten marine life.
Local residents have called for clearer policies on marine disposal and stronger enforcement of vessel registration rules, concerns echoed in coverage by BVI News and VINO. The RDA said the removal project complements wider government efforts to promote responsible marine management, improve shoreline aesthetics and reopen anchorages made unsafe by wrecks.
Authorities urge the public to heed temporary navigation restrictions or safety advisories, follow directional signage and keep a safe distance from work areas as operations continue. The RDA said it will provide updates as the four-month programme progresses and highlighted that the project forms part of broader recovery and resilience work overseen by the agency and the future Virgin Islands Development Agency (VIDA).
Primary source: VINO