New law: 30 days to claim vehicles deemed as derelicts
A reportedly abandoned vessel in the BVI. (Photo provided)
Owners of abandoned vehicles or vessels will only have 30 days to claim the property once government declares the vehicle as a ‘derelict’.
Government now has authority to declare a vehicle or vessel as a derelict under the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2018 that passed in the House of Assembly on July 2.
The new law said, upon contacting the territory’s Receiver of Wrecks to claim their property, owners or insurers then have a limited time to remove the vehicle in question.
“If the owner or insurer of the vessel does not remove and dispose of the vessel within 60 days from the date of issue of the notice, then the Receiver of Wrecks may take possession of the vessel and remove or sell or dispose of the vessel as is considered necessary,” government said while explaining the law.
“This, however, does not relieve the owners’ or the insurers’ responsibilities for the costs incurred for removal and disposal, plus a penalty,” it added.
Since the law came into effect, more than 300 vessels throughout the BVI have been deemed ‘derelict, abandoned, or otherwise shipwrecked’.
Owners are advised to check local newspapers and the Virgin Islands Gazette to ascertain whether their vessel is listed as a derelict.
“Persons are asked to contact the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry which holds the list of vessels identified to be derelict.”
The Receiver of Wrecks can be contacted at the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry located on the second floor of RG Hodge Plaza in Road Town, Tortola. Telephone 284-468-9646 or email [email protected]
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Finally
I am glad to see progress being made. As a faithful visitor I know this will go a long way in revitalizing the tourist industry of the islands.
Good idea, now please provide a link to these wrecks so we may bid on them….
Please ensure it is done or applies territory wide, in all the byways, ghauts and alleys.
These derelicts vehicles poses health risks. They are breading places for rodents and mosquitoes and obstructs our roads. Please, please, please.
Second Man has a big boat in the was Mangroves in Sea Cows Bay that needs to be removed.
Well go move it, it trouble you? Cause it sure have other boats there for years too
All well and good. But please enforce the cleanup;. Otherwise words alone have no teeth .This is especially necessary in JVD . all along the waterfront .
Words and notices are all well and good but have no teeth unless fully enforced . this action is especially required in JVD especially along the waterfront where visitors come in . This does not require much . I suggest that pictures be taken of these posted notices because they are being removed by owners . Good luck !