By By EDWIN MODLIN II
Staff Writer
As a boat rests partially submerged at the Marina at Moss Landing on the Pamlico River in Washington, the effort to contact the boat’s owner to find out what the owner wants down with the boat continues.
The boat’s stern is under water, with its bow — at approximately a 45-degree angle — protruding from the river.
Larry Williams, an owner of Sea Tow Pamlico, said efforts are under way to contact the boat’s owner and get the owner’s permission to remove it from the water. If the owner cannot be contacted soon, plans are to remove the partially submerged boat in a matter of days.
“The boat has a barrier around it to prevent any fuel from leaking out into the open water,” Williams said.
City Manager James C. Smith said the city contacted the Coast Guard and state officials about the boat, but it seems the city can do nothing about the boat because it’s at a private marina.
Smith said it’s his understanding that someone with an ownership interest in the boat has to give permission for the boat to be moved. Still, the city continues to look into the matter, he said.
“We are looking at what kind of legal action might be available,” Smith said Friday.
Stan Friedman, an investor in the marina, said he is not entirely sure who owns the vessel. Friedman said he’s seen the boat at the marina, but it has been docked at different locations there.
“I think the dock attendants were trying to rent him a slip just before the storm came,” Friedman said. “And I believe the boat started sinking just before the storm came last week. I contacted the North Carolina Wildlife (Resources Commission) to report it and to find out to see when it would be removed.”
Friedman explained that Sea Tow Pamlico has removed the vessel from the water on another occasion when its owner could not be contacted.
Terry Smithwick, a managing partner with Moss Property Partners, which oversees the marina, declined to comment on the boat.