Liberia issues notice about removal of all wrecks

The Liberia Maritime Authority, on December 1st, 2022, has issued a marine operations notice about removal of all wrecks in Liberian waters, stated the Authority on its Facebook page.

This notice is addressed to all shipowners, operators, masters, agents, salvage companies, national port authority, terminal operators, attorney-in-facts, and the general public.

Purpose

The Liberia Maritime Authority (“the Authority”) wishes to notify all concerned that following consultative engagements with the National Port Authority and stakeholders operating and providing services within Liberia’s maritime sector about its decision to have all wrecks removed from within the ports’ basin and along the Liberian coastline NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 31st, 2023.

The Authority will construe the failure of any person(s) to remove any and all wrecks on or before the specified deadline as abandonment of same or all and will remove same and recover any and all associated removal costs against any said person(s).​

The decision of the Authority is premised on the fact that there are unspecified number of wrecks within Liberian waters that have not been removed by their registered owners/operators for several years.

These apparently abandoned wrecks pose serious and imminent danger to the safety of navigation and the risk of pollution to the marine environment if not safely removed.

Additionally, wrecks within the ports’ basin continue to cause under-utilization of berths with corresponding loss of revenue for the National Port Authority over these years.

Contacts

Any person(s) having claims to any wreck(s) in Liberian waters must report such claims to the Authority with all relevant supporting documents.  

Claims must be made to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner – Vessel Registration and Safety, Liberia Maritime Authority, 1948 Maritime Drive, Oldest Congo Town, Opposite Ministerial Complex, P. O. Box 10 – 9042, Monrovia, Liberia.

For additional information, please contact charles.gono@lima.gov.lr or anthony.twe@lima.gov.lr.