Boat Graveyard: Hoboken To Finally Remove Sunken Boats, Restore Northern Shoreline

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken is finally moving forward with a plan to remove 14 sunken boats from the city's northern shoreline — as well as to restore the area, which contains debris and a broken bulkhead.

This comes after years of past officials pledging to get rid of the abandoned vessels, and even a petition from residents.

As part of a 2-year project, once the vessels have been removed, the city will repair the 16th
Street bulkhead, launch a public education campaign to help prevent future boat abandonment, and "create a living shoreline."

The boats have the potential to release harmful metals and chemicals, such as oil, mercury, plastics, and fiberglass, into the water, the city says.

The 24-month long project begins this spring with the removal of all known abandoned and derelict vessels in the Hudson River estuary.

Mayor Ravi Bhalla on Friday welcomed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad to discuss the Weehawken Cove restoration and boat removal project.

The project, funded in part by an over $235,000 NOAA grant, is "part of the city’s efforts to restore the local ecosystem and create a living shoreline."

“Our waterfront is the crown jewel of our city and we are glad to beautify it by removing abandoned boats that have been an eyesore for too long,” said Bhalla. “Thank you to Dr. Spinrad and NOAA for their continued support as we remove hazards from our Cove and restore wildlife habitats within the Hudson River.”

“Abandoned and derelict vessels threaten our ocean and coasts by obstructing navigation, damaging sensitive habitats, and diminishing commercial and recreational activities,” said NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad, Ph.D. "I am pleased that our funding is being leveraged to improve resilience in the City of Hoboken and the Hudson River Estuary.”

The efforts are funded in partnership with the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres program with the assistance of Riverkeeper and the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program.

Park Coming Nearby

The project is part of the city’s comprehensive approach to upgrade the waterfront. In the next 24 months, the city will move forward with the creation of Cove Park at 15th and Garden Streets as part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Rebuild by Design project.

The new park will include above ground amenities to protect the city from flooding caused by storm surge events, such as Superstorm Sandy.

• For more information on the restoration of Weehawken Cove, go to https://www.hobokennj.gov/news/hoboken-secures-grant-funding-for-weehawken-cove-boat-removal-project.
• For more information on the Rebuild by Design project, go to https://www.nj.gov/dep/floodresilience/rbd-hudsonriver.htm.

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