Ocean Pursuit shipwreck removal to begin Monday at Oregon Inlet

The Ocean Pursuit was hard aground in the breakers off Bodie Island Spit on March 5, 2020. [Sam Walker photo]

Removal begins Monday of a shipwrecked scallop trawler that has become something of a tourist attraction on the Outer Banks.

The Ocean Pursuit ran aground into the beach in March 2020 a half-mile south of Cape Hatteras National Seashore Ramp 4 on what’s known as the Bodie Island Spit.

(If you’re going looking for the wreck, park in the Ramp 4 lot just north of the Marc Basnight Bridge and walk about a half-mile south on the beach).

In the days after the vessel ran aground, its owners told the Coast Guard and National Park Service they were working on a plan to remove it.

On Monday, Oct. 25, Cape Dredging, Inc. from Buxton, will begin a $295,000 project to remove the abandoned vessel. Removal of the vessel is expected to take approximately 30 days.

“The National Park Service is continuing our attempts to recover costs associated with the removal of the derelict vessel from its registered owner,” said David Hallac, superintendent, National Parks of Eastern North Carolina. “This process has taken longer than expected, so Cape Hatteras National Seashore determined it was necessary to use a combination of fund sources to remove the vessel before it potentially becomes more expensive to remove later and to minimize impacts to the natural environment.

Cape Dredging, Inc. will perform the following tasks to remove the vessel:

  • Remove existing sand that has accumulated around the vessel
  • Remove deck structures
  • Remove all sand and water from compartments under deck surface
  • Cut vessel into smaller, manageable pieces and transport these pieces onto a tractor trailer for removal to appropriate disposal or recycling site
  • Restore the natural shape and slope to match surrounding beach

During the project, areas around the vessel will be marked as a construction zone and all unauthorized persons should stay clear. Other than the small construction zone and minor traffic delays due to the transport of vessel pieces, there is not expected to be impacts to recreational beach access.