Port Canaveral completes vessel removals

Port Canaveral completes vessel removals Officials from Port Canaveral said Monday the last of a dozen vessels left abandoned at the port after hurricanes Jeanne, Charley and Frances in 2004 has been removed from the waters of the Banana River.
   That brings a close to efforts by the port, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Florida Wildlife Commission and the Brevard County Sheriff's Department to ensure that Brevard waterways are clear and navigable for boaters.
   The port said in a statement that most of the owners of derelict vessels took responsibility for the vessel removals, but the port authority paid for the disposal of five vessels.
   'The port authority utilized the assistance of federal, state and local agencies to notify and give vessel owners the opportunity to remove their vessels,' said J. Stanley 'Stan' Payne, port chief executive officer. 'We are pleased that the waterways now are clear again for both recreational and commercial use.'