Nav Mistake (or, Low IQ) Costly in Keys

When seeing the above pictures the
first thing that came to our mind was: “Not ready for Prime Time.” As most Florida
boaters know, there is one thing you do not want to do and that his harm the sea
grass in the Florida Keys. Doing so can result in state and Federal fines that can
result in personal bankruptcy faster than you can say Lehman Brothers. Recently
the Fleming 55 “Freedom” reportedly owned by a Jupiter, Florida resident, plowed
a channel 4/10ths of a mile long off Islamorada. What, no chart plotter? No depth
sounder? No eyes? No brains? It all goes to prove what we have been saying for years:
anyone -- no matter how poor or rich -- can go boating.

This is the wide swath of damage caused by the 'Freedom.' That's Holiday Isle Resort on the right. (Photo by Bobby Rogers)

From Keysnet.com, July 15, 2009 --



A 55-foot boat missed a shortcut into Whale Harbor off Islamorada, leaving the trawler
grounded on a grass flat for several hours early Monday -- and nearly half a mile
of seagrass damage in its wake. The operator of the boat, named Freedom,
has been cited for damaging protected resources of the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary.


Additional citations are expected after a federal damage-assessment team completes
a more detailed survey of the grounding site later this week.



"You can stand on the [Whale Bridge and see that he left a pretty good ditch
through there," said John Gargan, a longtime charter captain working from Whale
Harbor Marina.



One boater estimated the propeller scar from the Freedom covers about four-tenths
of a mile.



The operator reportedly is from the Jupiter area, but his identity wasn't available
at press time Tuesday from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
the lead agency in the investigation.



The Freedom, built in 1992 by Fleming Yachts, apparently tried to use the
South Channel, an unofficial route through shallow water marked only by PVC pipes,
but missed.



The nearby Whale Harbor Channel is designated by U.S. Coast Guard markers.



The South Channel is mostly used by smaller boats. A boat the size of the Freedom
had no business trying to get through it, a local captain says.



Four boats from Towboat/Poseidon Towing of Islamorada arrived at the scene around
9:30 AM Monday.



"We waited for high tide and got it off there about 1:30 PM," said company owner
Barrie McCune. "We've seen quite a few vessels wind up in there."



Sanctuary staffers visited the scene Monday but were unable to begin surveying because
of ongoing salvage activity and water turbidity, said Karrie Carnes, sanctuary communications
director.



The assessment team is slated to return Friday.



Groundings resulting in damage to seagrass habitats are subject to both federal
and state fines. Penalties can include fines and the costs of assessing damage,
restoration of habitat, and long-term monitoring of restored habitat.



In the Keys national marine sanctuary, boats can be fined an initial $100 for a
grounding, and $75 per square yard of damage.



"Seagrasses require anywhere from two to 10 years to recover from propeller damage,
says the state Department of Environmental Protection.