MORE than 20 "eyesore" wrecks have been removed from a Southampton boat graveyard.

For years, local residents have branded the wrecks scattered up and down the River Itchen near Northam Bridge an "eyesore".

Over the last few months, ABP Port of Southampton has been clearing wrecked and abandoned vessels across its jurisdiction.

So far, 22 derelict boats have been removed from Northam.

READ MORE: 'Eyesore' wrecks removed from boat graveyard as part of clean-up

The teams are working towards "an environment the city can be proud of" and a place " local people take pleasure in seeing".

“The feedback we have had from local residents has been fantastic,” said Harbour Master, Steve Masters.

“They are enjoying looking at a vastly improved area and they appreciate what a complex process wreck removal is, not just in tracing owners, serving 28 days’ notices and carrying out full risk assessments for each vessel, but also in the physical process of securing each vessel, checking for contaminants and other hazards on board, and then lifting out, breaking down and disposing of the vessels safely.”

READ MORE: Calls for boats 'littered' down River Itchen in Southampton to be removed quicker

However, people have mixed opinions with some longing for the removal of the boats and others saying they should remain. 

One man, James Wardle, of St Denys Boat Club, previously raised concerns about newcomers using the river, and the impression the boats give off. 

He called for the river to be cleared sooner.

Towards the end of 2021, ABP began a programme to clear wrecks in the area, which involved clearing wrecks from Calshot and Southampton Water as well as a large cluster by Northam Bridge.

ABP worked with a team of specialist salvage divers from Seatech Commercial Diving.

Together they broke down old boats before they were taken away on a barge.

The Daily Echo was invited by ABP to watch the removal of some of the wrecks in May. 

ABP works in partnership with the Crown Estate regarding any wrecks that are sitting on the shore or riverbed - areas owned by the Crown Estate.

The next stage of the programme will launch later this summer and will see further wrecked and abandoned vessels just to the south of the Northam Bridge cleared.

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