On Monday, June 2, the City of St. Augustine will begin work with a contractor, Flagship Towing, to remove nine derelict vessels from local waterways, including Salt Run and the Matanzas River.
The project, which is expected to be completed in two weeks, is funded by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District. This effort supports navigational safety, environmental protection, and the overall health of the region’s marine ecosystem.
Once removed, the vessels will be relocated, properly destroyed, and disposed.
FIND consists of the twelve counties along the east coast of Florida from Nassau through Miami-Dade County with a board comprised of a governor-appointed commissioner from each county. Commissioner Carl Blow has served as a commissioner since 2009 representing St. Johns County, including a term as the board’s chair. FIND levies a real property tax on all property within the district's boundaries to generate the funds necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. Their efforts help advance safe navigation, environmental protection, and public access to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
The Port District is governed by five at-large commissioners elected to four-year terms. Established in the late 1930's by the Florida Legislature and subsequently approved by referendum vote of those residing within its boundaries, the Port District is an ad valorem taxing authority with a broad range of authority for building warehouses, wharfs, bridges, and other structures for the commercial development of the port. With their continued commitment, the Port District supports commercial and maritime activity for the benefit of St. Augustine.
For more information on these grants, contact the city’s General Services Department at 904.825.1010.
For media inquiries, contact Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, at 904-293-3307.