Sunken Boat Removal Services in North Miami Beach, FL

Emergency Call

Underwater Boat Lifting & Disposal Services

When the crew arrives on site, they set up staging on the bank or work barge, deploy oil-containment boom around the vessel, and send a diver down to inspect the hull and anchor points. Owners usually ask three things right away: how the boat comes up, whether fuel or oil will spill, and where the hull goes once it reaches the surface. The diver attaches lift bags, winches, or crane straps directly to structural points on the frame. As air fills the bags or the winch takes tension, the boat rises to the surface so pumps can drain the interior water. Spill prevention gear remains in place throughout the lift to trap petroleum products or hazardous fluids before they can spread.

Once the vessel is floating or secured to a crane, the work includes:

Site assessment and depth evaluation
Lifting and salvage recovery
Spill prevention and control of hazardous materials
Permit coordination with local marine authorities
On-site dismantling using cutting tools when required
Hauling and permanent disposal at licensed facilities

Rigging gear, high-capacity pumps, cutting torches, heavy winches, and tow boats allow the crew to clear sunken jet skis, open skiffs, runabouts, sailboats, yachts, and catamarans. Waterfront property owners, marina operators, and public dock managers call for this service when a submerged or abandoned vessel blocks a slip, creates a hazard, or threatens the surrounding water.

Sunken boat recovery and marine salvage planning document location details, vessel dimensions, visible damage, depth, and the path for recovery and removal.

Sunken Vessel Removal Process

Regulatory coordination and permits: Work begins with securing state or local environmental authorizations, water access permits, and agency clearances. Vessel owners receive copies of all filings and final disposal certificates for their records.
Site and vessel assessment: Crews evaluate underwater conditions, from deeply silt-buried hulls in tidal channels to standard shallow submersions. Depth, structural integrity, rig access, and active fuel or fluid leaks dictate the strategy.
Lifting plan development: Rigging configurations, air bags, or crane attachments are chosen strictly to bring the vessel to the surface for extraction, without regard for preserving the hull for restoration.
Refloating and site extraction: Riggers execute a controlled lift, secure the floating or suspended hull, pump out trapped water, and maneuver the vessel onto a trailer or haul-out barge.
Disposal and hazardous waste clearance: Fluids are drained into containment tanks, batteries and electronics are separated for recycling, and the crushed structure is hauled to an authorized disposal facility.

A submerged vessel recovery estimate and pricing review consider boat construction, structural damage, depth, available space, and environmental concerns.

Common Sunken Boat Situations Near Marinas

By the time help is called, the hull is taking on water, resting on the bottom, or wedged out of reach. Crews regularly extract vessels in these conditions:

Boats abandoned and sunk at docks or marinas
Storm-damaged vessels sitting underwater
Partly flooded or capsized hulls
Grounded or submerged boats blocking slips and channels
Vessels leaking fuel or oil

Sunken boat removal and recovery may be needed for partly submerged, capsized, grounded, storm-damaged, abandoned, or marina-sunk vessels.

Frequently Asked Questions

We remove small boats, recreational craft, and larger watercraft that are waterlogged or partially flooded.

Yes. We follow strict environmental guidelines to prevent pollution and protect water quality.

Yes. Recovery and salvage are part of the overall process, but the final goal is disposal, not restoration.

Contact Florida Boat Services to schedule an assessment and begin the boat removal process.

Need Sunken Boat Removal in North Miami Beach, FL

Once the work is done, you receive signed disposal documentation showing the title or registration was legally processed. Tell us what kind of unit is underwater—whether it is a fiberglass powerboat, a ballasted sailboat, or a jet ski—along with its depth and condition. Send clear photos of the site to get a recovery assessment.

For a marine recovery estimate, provide clear images of the boat and surrounding water, plus depth and shoreline or marina access details.