When owners dive: What local authorities can do about junk boats

Abandoned boats are becoming a problem for shipyards, harbours and municipalities. Heiligenhafen recently experienced this with of an unmanoeuvrable sailing yacht. Sabrina Rattunde, deputy head of the city's public order department, explains how local authorities are taking action against this.

Ms Rattunge, how often do orphaned scrap boats end up in your harbour?

Unfortunately, the tendency is for it to increase. We used to have fewer such cases.

First the port operator, then the port authority

What can the municipality do about it?

Firstly, the harbour operator tries to contact the owner and clarify the problem. If no progress is made, the case is referred to the harbour authority. This also happens if owners fail to act and public safety is jeopardised.

If our request also fails, the measures we take depend on the individual case: We can impose fines or carry out substitute performance.

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What is a substitute performance?

The local authority takes on the task of the owner, for example if operating materials leak out. We take care of the disposal, commission a company and invoice the owner.

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If the latter cannot bear the costs, who will bear them?

We initiate proceedings via the city treasury and the enforcement authorities.

But of course: If the owner has no means and is below the seizure limit, we are stuck with the costs.

What if it's urgent?

Basically, this takes time because we have to observe formalities, such as deadlines. However, the more acute the risk situation is, the faster we can act.

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