Watch CBS News

New Jersey Town Doesn't Know What To Do With Abandoned Boat Left Anchored For Weeks

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A maritime mystery is brewing after a boat was left anchored on the New Jersey coast.

Back and forth with the tide, the abandoned boat has been left to crash against the rocks at the Seastreak Pier in the Atlantic Highlands for more than three weeks.

"Someone should get rid of it. Nobody seems to want to take responsibility to do it," Nick Dibari, owner of the deck, told CBS2's Meg Baker.

Dibari's deck is located next to where the 38-foot boat named Jo-lyn was left. A man from Texas bought the boat on Staten Island and was attempting to take the boat down to Florida when a storm hit.

"The fire department got a call March 23 that a boat that washed up two passengers needed to be rescued," Adam Hubeny, borough administrator, told CBS2.

Hubeny said the owner "just took off."

The boat sits on the rocky shoreline now and Hubeny said it's an expensive task to salvage a boat from the water, more than $5,000.

"Trying to get the owner to take responsibility and get the boat, it seems that owner has taken off to Texas and does not plan to come back," he said.

According to maritime law, whoever touches the boat first owns it and then would also be responsible for removing it.

So far, no one and no agency wants to touch it. Locals have noticed the boat sitting there.

"I think it's a pretty big eyesore in marina, should get out of here," R.J. Foster said.

"I think the Coast Guard or somebody should come in and just remove it," Danny Comerford said.

The U.S. Coast Guard removed the oil and fuel as a safety precaution.

"We're trying to work with the Coast guard, New Jersey State Police, and water bureaus to get this thing out of here. Right now we're not sure what we are going to do," Hubeny said.

For now, the Jo-lyn is left to further deteriorate in the breaking waves with no one to claim her.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.