More than two dozen boats have been removed from Bermuda’s shoreline, a Government representative said yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said that 25 “abandoned and derelict vessels” had been scrapped.

She added: “This represents approximately one third of the total ADVs that are currently located around Bermuda’s coastline.

“Their removal has enhanced the beauty of our shores in addition to addressing some of the threats to the health of our marine environment.”

Boats were removed from Ferry Reach, Mullet Bay and Coney Island. A number of vessels at Mills Creek have also been cleared.

The spokeswoman said that batteries, oil and fuel were removed from the vessels before they were shipped to the dump.

She added that other vessels would be removed from other areas “as funding permits”.

The spokeswoman said a working group is looking to amend legislation so that the cost of salvaging sunken vessels is borne by boat owners and not the Government in the future.

The working group includes representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Marine and Ports Services and the Ministry of Public Works.

She added: “DENR and the working group are committed to pursuing the short-term salvage of existing ADVs and, more importantly, the necessary amendments to the legislation to ensure that the removal and disposal of sunken vessels are addressed shortly after they become wrecked and without using funding from Government.”

For more information, call 239-2356 or e-mail pollutioncontrol@gov.bm.