Laguna Nichupté authorities to remove abandoned vessels

Authorities in Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo, are launching a sanitation program to remove abandoned, sunken, or semi-sunken vessels from the Nichupté Lagoon. The operation, scheduled to begin on September 1, targets an initial priority list of approximately 48 vessels.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Benito Juárez City Council, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp), and the Nautical Associates of Quintana Roo (ANQR). The municipality will provide a site for the terrestrial storage of extracted units, while the private sector and Conanp will supply cranes, specialized personnel, and operational boats.

Following the removal, owners must prove legal ownership through the Port Captaincy of the Secretariat of the Navy to reclaim their property. If ownership is proven, owners will be required to pay administrative fines and the costs of the towing maneuvers. If no claims are made, authorities will initiate a legal abandonment process lasting three to five months, after which the vessels will be dismantled and disposed of as marine scrap.