Even after all of this time, after ferocious and historic Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic damage up and down the Southwest Florida coast, there remains painful remnants from one of the worst storms in the state’s history.
Ian, which slammed SWFL on Sept. 28, 2022, caused widespread death and destruction. And as was predicted by officials who assessed the horrific post-storm damage more than three and half years ago, it would take years for this region to be back to what it was before the storm.
So, on an early May day in 2026, it should not have been startling for people to see, as they drove over the Edison Bridge that connects Fort Myers to North Fort Myers on May 7, a giant crane lifting boats out of the Caloosahatchee River. The boats were sunk during Ian.
But how can seeing something like that not be a little startling and, if nothing else, provide one more uncomfortable reminder of how Hurricane Ian turned homes, lives and possessions upside down.
Photos: Years later, boats sunk by Hurricane Ian removed
The boats being removed were located at the Old Bridge Marina. A sign on the barge the crane was on showed the work was being done by Emerge Marine, which according to its website is a “Florida-based marine response and infrastructure company, built on extensive experience in the marine industry and special operations command.”
The News-Press reached out to the company to get more details on the boats being removed, including the number of boats and sizes (weight and length), but the Emerge Marine spokesperson declined to provide information beyond acknowledging Emerge Marine was handling the job.
What else the City of Fort Myers is saying about the boat removal
There City of Fort Myers confirmed there’s a new owner of the property who is working on a new plan for the marina.
The property the marina occupies is in Lee County but the City had to take over the submerged land lease from the previous owner (Skaggs/Nastar Roofing).
The City also released the following statement about the boat removal that is underway:
Yes, the new property owner has been removing the Hurricane Ian-damaged boats. The city has continued to follow all required regulations related to the removal of the derelict vessels.
Following the recent property sale, the City paused its permitting efforts to allow time to coordinate with the new property owner on their plans for the site and future marina improvements. Following our initial meeting, it now appears the new owner has solely initiated the boat removal process.
The city understands permits are required for this type of work and has contacted the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to better understand the status of the process and any next steps.
The city remains committed to working collaboratively with the property owner on future plans for the marina and restoration of the property.
The Old Bridge Marina: What to know
According to the Visit Florida website:
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Massive boats sunk by Hurricane Ian removed from Caloosahatchee River
Reporting by Mark H. Bickel and Andrew West, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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