Questions remain over who will remove a grounded yacht from the beach at Yaverland, with a local councillor warning that the vessel poses a ‘serious risk’ if it is washed back out to sea or deliberately set alight.
‘Sea Quester’ has been grounded on the foreshore at Yaverland since last month, close to the foot of the cliffs.
HM Coastguard was first alerted to the vessel on Sunday (16th August) and has previously confirmed that salvage is the responsibility of the vessel’s owner.
Councillor Adrian Whittaker, who sits on both Shanklin Town Council and Lake Parish Council, has now raised concerns about what could happen to the yacht if it remains where it is.
He says he has spoken with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) about Sea Quester and was advised that responsibility for removing the vessel from the beach lies with local authorities.
However, the Isle of Wight Council does not have legal powers to remove a wrecked vessel and the yacht is not on land owned or managed by the local authority.
Councillor Whittaker has said:
“I have just spoken with the Maritime Coastguard Agency regarding the yacht Sea Quester. They are fully aware of the situation, as is the Environmental Pollution Unit.
Article continues below this advertisement “They have advised that responsibility for removing the vessel from the beach lies with the local authorities.
“There is now a serious risk that the vessel could be washed back out to sea, potentially causing further environmental damage, or, as has happened with a number of buildings in the area, it could be burnt out.
“Given the potential risks to the environment, public safety and the surrounding area, I believe this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“For safety reasons, I would strongly advise people to stay away from the area and avoid approaching the vessel at this time.”
