Abandoned boats prevent nursing home from using beach

Two sailing boats have been marooned on the beach of the Packwood Rest Home for years, one since Hurricane Fabian in 2003.

((Photo by Akil Simmons))

A pair of abandoned sailboats have prevented elderly residents at Packwood Home from using their beach for more than ten years.

Apart from keeping senior residents off the beach, which directly faces sunsets in the West, the sailboats are also causing a mosquito problem.

Lodged in the sand on the eastern shore of Elys Harbour, Sandys, the sailboats are filled with various marine jetsam, while standing water within their holds makes an excellent breeding ground for mosquitos, according to staff.

Packwood activities director Diane Trott explained the frustration felt by herself and others who have tried for years to have the issue resolved.

Theyve been here too long, said Ms Trott. Weve asked everyone if they can come and do something about them, but nobody comes. They just keep sinking deeper and deeper [into the sand].

While one boat is privately owned, Packwood Home has inherited the other  blown onto their beach by Hurricane Fabian in September 2003  due to a nuance within Section 215 of the Merchant Shipping Act 2002.

Responsibility for the removal of the sailboat would normally fall within the Department of Marine and Ports jurisdiction.

When nobody claims ownership of a wreck after Marine and Ports issues a salvage notice, normal protocol would see the boat become the property of the Ministry of the Environment, which would then remove, dispose of, or sell it.

But because the boat is beached and not physically in the water  nor posing any danger to navigation  it now belongs to Packwood.

We had Works and Engineering down here. [Because the boats are on private land], they said it would cost us all this money to move them, said Ms Trott. But Packwood doesnt have money. This a charitable organisation.

The other boat, according to Packwood, was left on their beach five years ago after staff gave a local man permission to beach it in anticipation of a storm.

Despite many promises from the man  whom Packwood has not named  saying he would have the boat removed, staff said he has shown no intention to put his sailboat back on a mooring.

Now, former OBA deputy chairman Michael Branco is appealing to the public for help.

Mr Branco said he is willing to coordinate with anyone operating a crane service to help remove the boats.

At the end of the day all I want to do is help get that boat off the beach, he said. My grandfather lived with Packwood before he passed away. Theyve done a great service to my family, so I am happy to help.

Gary Pitman, who sits on the Packwood Home board of directors, has gone as far as offering the boat to local maritime programmes.

We tried ... [giving] it to the Sea Cadets so they could fix it up as a project, he said. Its not in that bad of shape.

But Packwood manager Nelda Smith says despite their best efforts, the problem still persists.

Weve tried Marine and Ports, weve taken out ads, everything ... said Ms Smith.

Marine and Ports did a clean-up in Elys Harbour two years ago, but somehow they missed our beach, she added.