Abandoned and 'occupied' fishing boat sinks in Xàbia port

The wooden vessel, which had been docked for five years, sank with no risk of pollution due to the minimal fuel remaining.

Image of a wooden fishing boat partially submerged in a Mediterranean harbor.
IA

Image of a wooden fishing boat partially submerged in a Mediterranean harbor.

A wooden fishing boat, abandoned and 'occupied' for about five years in Xàbia's port, sank overnight. The incident posed no pollution risk, as only a minimal amount of oil remained in the bilge.

The vessel, which was used for purse seine fishing of sardines and anchovies, had been taking on water for some time. The person living aboard, who has now lost their precarious shelter, had to bail water daily with buckets. The owner died years ago, and the boat was left moored and abandoned, reflecting the issue of a lack of generational renewal in traditional fishing.
Technicians from Ports, Maritime Rescue, and the cleaning company Tetma, along with the Councilor for the Environment, Juanlu Cardona, visited the scene this morning. The mayor, Rosa Cardona, is coordinating the vessel's removal with the regional government (conselleria).