Flying boats make for a rare sight as Washington clears an island of derelict vessels by helicopter

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. haul / hɔl / (v.) – to pull or move something heavy by using a lot of effort
    Example:

    Small planes were used to haul building materials and supplies into the remote village.


  2. uninhabited / ˌʌn ɪnˈhæb ə t̬ɪd / (adj.) – relating to a place with no people living in it
    Example:

    The scientists plan to stay on the uninhabited island to study the plants there.


  3. opt / ɑpt / (v.) – to choose one thing instead of the other choices
    Example:

    He opted to travel early in the morning rather than later to avoid heavy traffic.


  4. render / ˈrɛn dər / (v.) – to cause something to be in a certain state or condition
    Example:

    The broken bridge rendered the town difficult to reach.


  5. derelict / ˈdɛr ə lɪkt / (adj.) – relating to something that is left unused and in bad condition
    Example:

    The city plans to repair a derelict factory.


Article

Read the text below.

As the owner of a marina, Kate Gervais is used to seeing boats in the water. But for the last couple of days, she’s been seeing them in the air.


The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) used one of its firefighting helicopters to haul abandoned boats off an uninhabited island in the southernmost reaches of Puget Sound, where the vessels had come to rest after drifting with the currents, and fly them to the mainland to be deconstructed later.


With 14 vessels removed, it was the agency’s largest operation of its kind, officials said.


“It was a very, very weird sight,” said Gervais, who owns Boston Harbor Marina, just north of Olympia. “The sailboat with the mast was the weirdest one to see.”


A boat removal by helicopter is typically done by a private pilot, but for this operation, which was funded by a federal grant, the DNR opted to use one of its firefighting helicopters. It was cheaper and helped stretch the $1 million National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant, said Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove.


The state agency opts to airlift boats when towing them would disrupt the marine bed or the surrounding environment too much. The aquatic lands where the boats land often include kelp beds, which are critical for supporting the forage fish that salmon rely on.


Vessels for this operation were found in hard-to-reach coves, at the tree line or in mud that rendered an airlift a better option, agency staff said.


Since the boat removal program began in 2002, the department has hauled out more than 1,200 derelict vessels. There are at least 300 more out there, with more found all the time, Upthegrove said.


“It’s a real challenge impacting the Puget Sound when people essentially dump their old boats into the water because they don’t want to deal with disposing of them,” he said. “That burden then falls on all of us.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • A federal grant is being used to pay for removing old boats that people left behind in the water. This money comes from taxpayers. Do you think it’s fair for everyone to pay for cleaning up boats that others abandoned? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What is a fair way to make people who leave their boats behind take responsibility? Should they pay a fine, help clean up, or face another kind of consequence? Which idea do you think would work best? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • More than 1,200 abandoned boats have already been pulled from the water, many from hidden coves or muddy shores. Why do you think some people leave their boats in secret places instead of getting rid of them the right way? What do you think this says about the people who abandon their boats? Discuss.
  • In your country, have you seen people leave old cars, furniture, or other large items in hidden places instead of disposing of them properly? How do people in your country safely get rid of large items such as boats, cars, or electronics? Discuss.