The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a strict deadline for the removal of all wrecked, sunk or stranded ships along the Liberian coastline and within port basins, noting that all individuals with claim to a wreck should remove them on or before October 31, 2025.
According to the maritime authority, these wrecks, which have not been removed by their owners or operators for several years, pose serious and imminent threats to the safety of navigation and pollution to the marine environment if they are not safely removed. “Additionally, these wrecks are causing under-utilization of berths in the port basins, which results in a loss of revenue for the National Port Authority,” LiMA observed.
“All parties concerned are required to remove their wrecks by October 31, 2025. Any wrecks not removed by this deadline will be considered abandoned. The authority will then proceed with the removal and will seek to recover all associated costs from the responsible parties,” the Maritime Authority noted.
The marine regulator stated that any individual or entity with claims to a wreck in Liberian waters must submit their claim and all relevant supporting documents to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Vessel Registration and Safety, John Harvey, at john.harvey@lima.gov.lr, or Anthony Twe at anthony.twe@lima.gov.lr.