A decades-old abandoned multi-deck boat is sinking in Governors Creek in Grand Cayman.
The Cayman Mermaid, which arrived in the Cayman Islands from Miami in the 1980s, has been used over the years for concerts, parties, fire shows and snorkelling trips.
As of Wednesday morning, 24 May, the vessel, also known as the ‘Merpig’, was partially submerged, leaning to its left side with water nearly reaching the upper deck.
Robert Scotland, commander of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, confirmed officers had been on site along with the Department of Environment and the Port Authority.
“As the vessel had already sunk and there were no persons on board in need of saving, the only other role for the Coast Guard [was] to support the DoE in any way they requested,” Scotland told the Compass.
A Department of Environment spokesperson confirmed to the Compass that conservation officers responded earlier on Wednesday to a report of a sinking boat in Governors Harbour.
“Officers attended the scene and advised that the wreck does not appear to pose any immediate threats to the water or marine life,” they said.
“However it will continue to be monitored should anything emerge which could potentially impact the environment.”
The Mermaid, the subject of a retrospective in this publication, had been used to run cruise ship tours during the day, and then accommodated residents and stayover tourists for parties in the evenings.
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Why doesn’t Government check the vessel’s registry to determine the last owner and impose upon them the legal obligation to remove the wreck?
The Vessel is a Hazard in one of our main Harbours without any lights at night. It should be properly removed.