Monroe County officials say temporary mobile vessel services are back in the Upper Keys.
County commissioners voted in June not to renew a contract with Pumpout USA that expired on June 30. Instead, the county decided to seek bids for a new Keyswide mobile vessel sewage pumpout service.
While the county continues to seek a new vendor to provide long-term mobile pumpout services to vessels anchored in the Keys, a temporary agreement is in place with On The Hook Marine Services for mobile vessel pumpouts. That service started Oct. 1 in the following anchorages: Little Basin, Windley/Wilson Key, Community Harbor, Tarpon Basin, Big Basin, Windley/OV Basin, Buttonwood Sound and Jewfish Creek.
The service is free and registration can be done at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/pumpout or by calling 305-833-1978.
Upon first service, vessels will be provided an orange pumpout flag to be flown when service is requested. This flag shall be flown from a visible location aboard the vessel. Service will be provided only when the pumpout flag is properly displayed. Vessels will also receive a monthly endorsement sticker that will serve as documentation for compliance with the Monroe County Proof of Pumpout Ordinance 015-2017.
A weekly service schedule can be found at www.onthehookmarine.com. Every effort will be made to provide vessels with a routine, weekly pumpout service, if requested. However, weather, safety or other scheduling considerations can affect the schedule. Shoreside pumpout stations are also available throughout Monroe County; a list is at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/pumpout.
More information is available from On The Hook Marine Services at 305-833-1978 or onthehookms@gmail.com, or the Monroe County Marine Resources Office at 305-289-2505 or Hitchins-Celia@MonroeCounty-FL.Gov. A similar service is being provided in the Key West and Stock Island area.
