SAYING that boat owners have ignored the Coastal Resources Management’s order to remove all abandoned boats along the shoreline, CRM announced that it will pull out these vessels without further warning.
CRM issued an order on Nov. 29 for the removal of all boats at beach sites and shoreline.
The 60-day notice expired on Jan. 14, 2002, but as of yesterday, some wooden and fiber glass boats that were damaged and left behind, continued to litter Saipan’s shoreline and the marine environment.
Benny Pangelinan, CRM coastal projects coordinator, yesterday said they have the authority to execute the removal of all boats along the shoreline without further notice.
“We have been trying to give them a chance to remove their own boats, but it seems they don’t want to do it. We want them to take this notice seriously,” Pangelinan told Variety.
CRM has scheduled a meeting with boat owners to discuss their concerns.
The meeting will be held on June 14, beginning at 9 a.m. at the CRM conference room.
Pangelinan said these abandoned boats not only “degrade the shoreline’s aesthetic value,” but pose coastal, safety and health hazards as well.
“Should boat owners fail to show or respond to the announced scheduled meeting, CRM will exercise its authority under the CRM rules and regulations,’” Pangelinan added. CRM will coordinate the removal of these boats with the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
