PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – It’s no longer just a fantasy. An eyesore visible from the Portsmouth and Norfolk waterfronts is finally being removed.

People have been waking up to the site of a sunken vessel in the Elizabeth River, for almost a year.

10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox has been reporting on the efforts of Mike Provost with Vessel Disposal & Refuse Foundation to get abandoned vessels removed from Virginia Beach waterways. Now, he’s getting one removed on the Elizabeth River, on the Portsmouth side.

The process began Monday morning.

The process of removing the derelict vessel Fantasy London from the Elizabeth River began on Monday, September 19. (Photo courtesy: Robert Field)

He credits 10 On Your Side for helping connect the dots to find the owner to grant permission for Provost’s partners H&H Enterprises and Lynnhaven Marine to get the job done. Not only one boat, but possibly a second one too. 

This follows 10 on Your Side investigations into these eyesores and what’s being done to move them out. 

It is called a Clam Shell Bucket Shovel and it is attached to the end of a crane. It chomps up what needs chomping, and in this case, it’s Vessel Fantasy that’s getting chomped up. 

For months, it has been abandoned, and now the Vessel Disposal Reuse Foundation targeted it as its next victim for removal.  

“Since we opened in December 2021 in that time, we have removed 12 abandoned vessels and over 100,000 pounds of hazardous debris removed from our waterways, and we have recycled 10,000 pounds of metal,” said Mike Provost with Vessel Disposal Reuse Foundation.

Doing the Heavy lifting is H & H Enterprises and underwriting this vessel removal is Lynnhaven Marine.  

10 On Your Side hooked up Provost with the Fantasy’s owner who gave the approval to remove it. We agreed not to mention his name, and he agreed to sign the contract that allowed Provost to proceed with the removal. 

“For the foundation, we always get written permission via contract from the owner before we proceed. I am not here to report to anyone. I am here to remove environmental hazards. This is done at no cost to the owner, and I’m just happy we could help with this project.” 

10 On Your Side also connected Provost with the owner of “It’s All Good” located next to the Fantasy. 

“So, this is a 40-foot aluminum boat that burned to the water. We are waiting for the signature to move forward, but once she is signed, we will hopefully knock out the project hopefully Tuesday,” said Provost.

It should also be noted that Provost and H&H Enterprises do all the work at no cost to taxpayers.