Sea Cows Bay Cleanup Progressing Well as
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) reports the Derelict Vessels Removal & Disposal Project at Sea Cows Bay Harbour is on schedule, with 19 of 28 identified wrecks removed now in Week Three of operations. The four-month programme, which began on 5 December 2025, is being carried out by an RDA-led team working with a joint-venture of local contractors and under environmental oversight from the Ministry of the Environment and VISMA as Receiver of Wrecks.
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) says the Derelict Vessels Removal & Disposal Project at Sea Cows Bay Harbour is progressing on schedule, with 19 of the 28 identified wrecks removed as the programme enters its third week. The RDA reported the figure to media, and the progress was also detailed in a Guavaberry update and BVI Government releases.
The four-month operation, which began on 5 December 2025, targets vessels assessed as navigational, environmental and public-safety risks. Now in Week Three of active work, the removal of 19 vessels represents significant early progress against the overall timeline, reflecting favourable operational conditions and close coordination among stakeholders.
Work is conducted seven days a week, starting at 7:00 a.m., with shifts extending 12 hours or more as required. The on-site team includes an Operations and Project Manager, heavy-equipment operators, boat captains, a dive master, commercial divers, underwater welders, lifting and rigging operators, a civil engineer and other technical staff to manage lifting, disposal and environmental safeguards, the RDA said.
The removal programme is being carried out by a joint-venture contractor made up of Virgin Islands firms Sandwise Ltd. and Commercial Dive Services Ltd., working alongside the RDA project team. The accelerated early pace was credited to that effective coordination, sufficient technical capacity and favourable weather and sea conditions.
The project is being executed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 17 November 2025. According to the RDA and the Guavaberry report, signatories included the Minister of the Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Hon. Julian Fraser; the Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley; Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority (VISMA) Managing Director Mr.
John Samuel; and RDA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Under the MOU, the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for environmental oversight, while the VISMA Managing Director is designated as Receiver of Wrecks under the Disaster Management Act. The RDA has been charged with full-cycle project delivery and procurement, working collaboratively with government ministries to ensure the necessary capacity, resources and technical expertise.
RDA Chief Executive Officer Anthony McMaster said the project underscores the value of coordinated action in addressing long-standing harbour challenges. "Through careful planning and collaboration with key stakeholders, we are advancing work that contributes to a safer, more functional Sea Cows Bay Harbour," he said in remarks circulated by the Agency.
For residents, the removals aim to reduce hazards to small craft, fishing and recreational users, limit pollution risks from decaying hulls and fuel, and restore Sea Cows Bay Harbour as a safe and functional space for marine users and the wider community. The RDA said all activities will comply with established environmental, safety and disposal protocols.
Members of the public with concerns about the project may use the Agency’s Grievance Redress System by emailing complaints@bvirecovery.vg. The RDA and its contractors say they will continue operations through the programme’s remainder to complete vessel removals and ensure responsible disposal and site restoration.
Primary source: BVI Government