Concern over Sydney Harbour's 'graveyard of abandoned boats'

Sydney Harbour is renowned worldwide for its beauty, but on and beneath the surface lies a major problem.

Scattered across its bays are abandoned vessels — at least 80 of them. These boats aren’t just eyesores; they’re environmental hazards and economic burdens.

Left to rot and sink, many are weighed down by years of marine growth and neglect.

When 1News joined the head of the Save Our Sydney Harbour campaign out on the water, the extent of the issue became painfully clear - dozens of boats with bellies full of water above their antifoul lines.

Stuart King, who has spent years advocating for action, called the harbour a "graveyard of abandoned boats".

One of the most alarming examples is the Cape Don, a rusted giant towering over smaller vessels.

Approaching the Cape Don, its precarious state is impossible to ignore. Holes line the hull, and the ship is tethered to decaying jetties — structures of rusting steel and crumbling concrete.

King warned that these abandoned boats are not only a risk to marine life, but also a burden on New South Wales’ economy.

Many older boats contain tributyltin (TBT), a globally banned toxic substance notorious for its harm to marine ecosystems.

"Studies have shown it can even change the gender of sea snails," King said.

Coupled with microplastics from peeling paint and fiberglass, it leaches into the harbour.

Sydney’s famous harbour is more than a tourist attraction; it’s also home to Australia’s largest oyster industry, valued at nearly $250 million annually.

The financial burden of dealing with these derelict boats is significant. Each abandoned vessel can cost taxpayers up to $35,000 to remove — a bill often left unpaid by the owners.

During our trip with King, we encountered a boat flagged for removal in February 2023. Nearly two years later, it remained untouched.

King pointed out its hull, which he said was "full of water, with its bow down".

"That just shouldn’t be happening."

New South Wales Maritime, the authority responsible for the state’s waterways, told 1News in a statement that it is introducing the Marine Safety Amendment Bill to improve vessel monitoring and registration.

Meanwhile, across the Tasman, New Zealand appears to be faring better.

Auckland Transport said it routinely disposes of abandoned vessels and keeps its "to-do" list capped at 20 boats to ensure the problem "remains manageable".

"We can all learn from each other," King said. "Perhaps we need international collaboration to create standards that better control what comes into and stays in harbours."

For King, the answer lies in global collaboration and innovation. He advocates for an "open-loop recycling process" akin to those used for motor vehicles, where manufacturers share responsibility for end-of-life vessels.

"We need to bring the right minds and industries together to create a system that not only removes these vessels but also repurposes materials sustainably," he said.

While Sydney’s nautical heritage is known the world over, experts warn that without immediate action, its future is under threat.