Abandoned Boats a Hidden Problem
By Jesse Hyland from our ABC
On Sydney Harbour's pristine waters, there is no shortage of lavish yachts, eye-wateringly expensive catamarans and giant cruise ships.
But in some pockets is a hidden problem: Derelict vessels being left to rot, collapsing structures, crumbling jetties and their debris littering the waterway.
Stuart King first laid eyes on an abandoned boat in the harbour more than a decade ago.
"I was blissfully unaware because I was just enjoying the harbour, having a great time on the boat," the avid Sydney sailor said.
"I had a closer look at it, I thought, 'Wow, man, that's just ridiculous. How long has that been here?'"
Since that time, Mr King has come across dozens of dilapidated private and commercial vessels while sailing around in his rigid inflatable boat.
There are boats with broken railings, snapped masts, shattered windows, weathered seats, grime and holes tucked away in bays across the harbour.
In an audit conducted along eastern Sydney earlier this year, Mr King counted more than 80 unusable vessels.