SCDNR to remove former US Navy torpedo boat from Bohicket Creek Tuesday

The South Carolina Department of Resources will oversee the removal of a 120-foot former US Navy torpedo vessel from Bohicket Creek Tuesday, just under a month after the owner was arrested for abandoning it. (SCDNR)

(WCIV) — The South Carolina Department of Resources will oversee the removal of a 120-foot former US Navy torpedo vessel from Bohicket Creek Tuesday, just under a month after the owner was arrested for abandoning it.

The boat has been grounded near a private dock near Johns Island for years, leaking oil into the marsh and nearby waters. SCDNR said in late July that Samuel Kodaimati was responsible for the vessel, which was rendered inoperable under federal maritime law in 2021 when a Captain of the Port Order for improper documentation was issued. Kodaimati was the first person arrested under the new abandoned boat law and faces two charges of abandoning a watercraft which could carry fines up to $43,400, according to SCDNR.

“This removal is more than a cleanup — it’s a commitment to protecting our coastal resources and ensuring that sensitive habitats like our salt marshes remain healthy and resilient,” said Dr. Tom Mullikin, Director of SCDNR. “This action shows that SCDNR takes both enforcement and restoration seriously.”