In May and June, the Martinique Maritime Authority will begin removing 15 abandoned, derelict boats from Fort-de-France Bay and the Trois-Îlets coastline. Prefect Étienne Desplanques will attend the salvage of two wrecks in the Californie area on Thursday, May 7, starting at 10 a.m. The operation is 100% funded by the 2025 Green Fund.
Since 2022, 257 vessels have already been identified and removed from Martinique’s waters. The 15 vessels targeted by this new campaign are added to this total, as part of a public policy to preserve the marine environment led by government agencies. Corroded hulls, degraded antifouling paint, residual oil, and decomposing plastics: these wrecks, some of which are partially submerged, release toxic substances that are particularly harmful to tropical ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. In these environments, the damage is often irreversible.
Three Simultaneous Threats to the Coastline
Beyond chemical pollution, abandoned boats pose a risk to maritime safety. Whether afloat or partially submerged, they clog port access channels and anchorage areas, causing boating accidents and damage to vessels. Their presence also hinders the development of coastal infrastructure that is vital to the local economy: anchorage and light-equipment zones (ZMEL), marinas, and water sports activities. These are all essential economic drivers for communities along the Martinique coastline.
A €250,000 public contract awarded to Somara
The project is part of a public contract worth nearly 250,000 €, which was awarded in November 2025 to the Société martiniquaise de remorquage et d’assistance (Somara). Somara relies on two specialized subcontractors: Metal Dom and Clean Océane. Funding is provided entirely by the 2025 Green Fund, a government initiative designed to support the ecological transition of local communities.
A demanding technical and legal process
Removing a derelict boat cannot be done on the fly. After locating the vessel, the Martinique Maritime Authority proceeds to identify the owner and issues a formal notice requiring the owner to remedy the condition of abandonment. If there is no response, the ownership is forfeited, paving the way for the vessel’s permanent removal.
The recovered boats are then handed over to the Association for Eco-Responsible Boating (Aper), a national environmental organization responsible for dismantling and recycling them in accordance with strict environmental standards. This program, funded by an eco-contribution levied on the purchase of every new boat, allows owners to recycle their end-of-life vessels free of charge, rather than abandoning them. To date, this program has no equivalent anywhere in the world.
Several dozen other ships under surveillance
The Martinique Maritime Authority has already identified several dozen other vessels lacking safety measures or permits. These vessels are under active surveillance, with a view to issuing a formal notice, followed, if necessary, by a fine or destruction. The May–June 2026 campaign is therefore just one step in a long-term effort to restore Fort-de-France Bay and the Martinique coastline to their original purpose: a vibrant, safe, and accessible marine environment.
IN BRIEF – May 7 in the California area
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- 9:45 a.m.: Boarding at the Hydrobase, the lighthouse and beacon site in Fort-de-France.
- 10:00 a.m.: shipment to the California site.
- 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: project to salvage and remove the two wrecks.
- 11:45 a.m.: Press briefing by the prefect on the Hydrobase pier, attended by Somara and Metal Dom.
Afternoon: Beaching of shipwrecks prior to transport for dismantling
