Abandoned boats, on Pittsburgh's rivers and streets, a growing problem

A boat has become a fixture on the Allegheny River next to PNC Park. It's survived both ice and high waters and has been getting a lot of attention.

"We are hoping this is going to be resolved. I've been in touch with the boat owner and he's asked for some advice on how to get the boat out due to the inclement weather," said Officer Michael Johnson with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The commission wouldn't tell Target 11's Rick Earle why the owner abandoned the boat, but did say the owner told them he plans to remove it as soon as the river conditions improve.

That boat is just one of a handful Target 11 has been tracking for the last year. In many cases, we found there's little recourse for owners who find boats on their property.

Last spring, a boat was hung up on the Riverquest docks near the Carnegie Science Center. It wasn't easy, but Riverquest eventually tracked down the owner of the boat, who was tied up in a legal dispute with the marina where the boat had been before it broke away.

"That's when it became a seven-month ordeal, trying to have it removed," said August Carlino, of Riverquest.

Ultimately, Riverquest's insurance company covered the cost to remove the boat.

"Somebody told me there are more laws on the books in Harrisburg to deal with abandoned farm animals and lost farm animals than there are on the books to deal with abandoned and lost boats," said Carlino.

Target 11 discovered not all of those abandoned boats are on Pittsburgh's rivers. The city has been working with the commission to tackle the problem on land.

"Boats are not permitted to be parked on city streets and police have been very aggressive with cleaning up our city, not only with abandoned cars but abandoned boats, trucks, vehicles, and everything else," said Guy Costa, chief operations officer.

So far, the city has removed nearly a dozen boats. Once the commission determines they are abandoned, the boats will be destroyed. Metal trailers are sold for scrap, but fiberglass boats have no value, which is part of the problem.

"That's why they end up abandoned. People probably either don't have insurance or collect the insurance and leave the boats, and they don't want to pay to maintain them," said Mary Ann Bucci, with the Port of Pittsburgh Commission.