Following an extensive investigation, permitting and coordinated removal effort spanning more than three years, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) successfully oversaw the removal of the 65-foot commercial sailing vessel Queen Anne’s Revenge — likely named after Blackbeard’s flagship — from the waters of Key Largo.
The final pieces of the vessel were removed on Oct. 6, by TSI Disaster Recovery, a marine recovery contractor owned and managed by Henry Elmore and Beau Tyson.
The Queen Anne’s Revenge was determined to be derelict on Aug. 3, 2021, by the FWC. The vessel had reportedly been in the Key Largo area for several years and ultimately sank during Hurricane Irma. After the owner failed to remove the vessel, the FWC initiated efforts to have it cleared from the area, which included a public bidding process. The removal contract was awarded to TSI Disaster Recovery.
Obtaining the necessary permits was a lengthy process. Over a two-year period, TSI worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to secure all required authorizations before beginning physical removal in August 2025.
Due to its construction and environmental location, the Queen Anne’s Revenge presented extraordinary challenges. The vessel was built primarily of concrete, featuring 10- to 12-inch-thick walls, steel mesh and 1-inch-diameter rebar throughout. Its 20-foot keel section alone weighed some 24,000 pounds and was buried 9 feet deep in mud.
The hull was reinforced concrete and steel, requiring 70,000 pounds of lift, specialized cutting equipment and weeks of underwater work to remove safely and responsibly. TSI crews spent seven weeks cutting and removing massive concrete and steel sections — some more than 8 inches thick. Work was paused several times to protect manatees entering the site and to minimize disturbance to mangroves growing around the vessel.
An osprey nest once sitting atop the sunken ship was safely removed and reinstalled at the neighboring Gilbert’s Resort & Marina.
Derelict vessels remain a top priority for the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section, which continues a multiyear statewide initiative to reduce environmental and navigational hazards caused by abandoned and deteriorating boats.
Derelict vessels damage seagrass beds, marine habitats and property, while posing threats to navigation and public safety. Leaving a vessel in a derelict condition is a crime under Florida law.
As of October 2025, Florida has 379 derelict vessels recorded on state waters, the lowest number in more than a decade.
New legislation effective July 1, 2025, strengthens vessel accountability measures and enhances protections for Florida’s waterways. Additionally, the FWC’s Vessel Turn-In Program has helped owners voluntarily surrender over 200 vessels, preventing them from becoming derelict.
Vessel owners can visit FloridaVTIP.com to learn more about the program.
