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FWC details derelict vessel removals, prevention programs and contractor network
Summary
Major Bill Holcomb told the subcommittee the FWC had 353 active derelict‑vessel investigations (down from 1,221 in November), removed 500 hurricane‑affected vessels in 2024, and has programs (block grants, VTIP) plus a 20‑company RFP to accelerate removals; he described the 21‑day compliance clock and owner reimbursement and criminal penalties.
Major Bill Holcomb, section leader for Boating and Waterways in the Division of Law Enforcement at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, gave the subcommittee a detailed briefing on derelict vessels (DVs): how the agency defines them, the scale of the caseload, prevention tools and removal logistics.
Holcomb summarized definitions under Florida law—vessels are derelict when wrecked, junked or substantially dismantled—and said removals increased after 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, when about 500 vessels were rendered derelict and removed. He reported the FWC currently has 353 active DV investigations in its statewide database, down from 1,221 in November, crediting targeted enforcement and the work of 12 OPS DV specialists (positions currently funded by an expiring federal grant through July 2026).
On process and procurement, Holcomb explained officers inspect and document at‑risk vessels, issue citations and warnings, and start a 21‑day compliance clock: if an owner does not bring a vessel into compliance, the FWC posts a removal request for competitive bids on day 22 and typically awards a contract in about two to three weeks; contractor scheduling and site complexity mean removals commonly occur roughly three to six weeks after the bidding stage, with many cases settling in the 3–4 week range after award.
Holcomb described the agency’s RFP for DV contractors (20 firms currently under contract, five able to work statewide) and said the RFP is expected to be renewed in February 2026 to expand capacity. He also described the DV block grant program (approved by the commission in 2024) that pre‑funds qualified local governments—three awards have been made to West Coast Inland Navigation District, Miami‑Dade County and Monroe County—and the Vessel Turn‑In Program (VTIP, authorized under Florida statute) that allows at‑risk owners to remove vessels before they become derelict; VTIP removed 223 vessels since inception and produced taxpayer savings, Holcomb said.
Regarding costs and penalties, Holcomb said removal costs vary with vessel size and site conditions and that grant funding allows local governments to be reimbursed for 100% of removal costs in some cases. He told members recent legislation increased criminal penalties for derelict‑vessel convictions (the first derelict‑vessel conviction is a first‑degree misdemeanor; the second conviction is a third‑degree felony; the third is a second‑degree felony). Holcomb said owners are responsible for reimbursement after removals, and unpaid debts can result in withheld vehicle or vessel registration renewals until payment is made.
Committee members praised agency work and asked operational questions: Representative Benaroche asked about average time from report to removal and Holcomb outlined the 21‑day notice then bidding timetable described above; Representative Weinberger asked about owner charges and Holcomb summarized the criminal/civil penalties and reimbursement policy.
Holcomb said the agency upgraded its DV database and will launch a long‑term anchoring permit system in January 2026 to better track long‑term stored vessels and help prevent hurricane‑related derelictions.
