Broads officials in Norfolk consider 'boat amnesty' to remove vessels at risk of sinking
It's hoped it'll tackle the growing number of wrecks in the Broads.
Broads officials in Norfolk are considering introducing an amnesty scheme to remove vessels at risk of sinking from the waterways.
Under the proposals, boat owners would take unwanted crafts to the Broads Authority’s depot to be disposed of.
It is hoped this new approach will help tackle the growing number of wrecks in the Broads, which are causing a growing financial burden for the organisation.
The problem has been blamed on a “worrying trend” of ‘gifting’, where boats in poor condition are being given to people for free so owners avoid the hassle of getting rid of a boat with no resale value.
This leads some boat owners to ditch their worse-conditioned vessels in favour of the gifted craft.
Others are selling non-compliant boats very cheaply or offering them for free on social media sites like Facebook Marketplace.
A report has revealed the scale of the issue faced by the BA, which is paying thousands of pounds in upfront costs to recover sunken vessels.
These costs could result in higher toll fees for Broads users.
Just three months into 2025, the BA has dealt with nine sunken boats, all on the River Yare.
Last year, there were 15 abandoned vessels, six that sunk, three that became unserviceable and five that the BA became responsible for after illness, police involvement or other matters.
Other recent incidents include marina staff moving boats and leaving them at one of the BA’s 24-hour moorings after the owner failed to pay their berthing fees.
The BA says it was unable to prove the marina staff had moved the boat, leaving its rangers to deal with the abandoned vessel, who moved it to a safe place at a cost of £4,000.
A specialist team is also attempting to recover two sunken vessels from a stretch of the River Yare between Reedham and Berney Arms this month.
This will cost £72,000 for the work.
The authority attempts to recover costs from the owner for recovering wrecks. However, it warns this is a lengthy process and rarely results in the full costs being retrieved.
Increasingly, specialist contractors and dive teams are needed to recover the vessels.
The BA’s equipment is not capable of lifting vessels if they have sunk to certain depths or are too heavy.
It can cost between £40,000 – £80,000 to recover larger craft.
A BA officer warns in the report: “Without a proactive strategy, the costs to the BA of recovering wrecked (sunken or abandoned) vessels are forecast to increase, taking the much-needed navigation income away from river maintenance and moorings and dealing reactively with non-compliant vessels.”
The problem is not exclusive to the Broads and it has been reported at waterways across the country, including on the River Avon in Bath and in Cornwall.
'Boat amnesty'
Under the proposals, the BA could allow boat owners to bring their unwanted vessels to its riverside depot within a specific time frame.
The craft can then be disposed of responsibly. The scheme could be offered free of charge or for a small fee.
Money could also be recuperated by the BA through selling spare parts or salvage.
Another option considered is for the BA to buy boats with low resale value, allowing officials to take charge of the vessel to prevent it from becoming another wreck.
Ultimately, this would save money by reducing the number of sunken boats needing to be recovered.
The boat amnesty idea will be discussed this week at a Navigation Committee meeting on Thursday.