SOUTHAMPTON’S port authority has not yet removed any more abandoned vessels from a ‘ship graveyard’ which it vowed to clear two months ago.

As reported by the Daily Echo in April , there were a number of complaints about several derelict boats in the River Itchen around Northam Bridge.

After recognising their responsibility for keeping the river free of obstruction, a spokesperson for ABP in April agreed the authority would “work collaboratively with all relevant authorities” to clear the area.

Two vessels were cleared in the month before ABP was contacted by the Daily Echo.

However two months later, ABP has announced that no more boats have been removed since then.

An ABP spokesperson said: “We continue to work collaboratively with other partner authorities to be able to remove wrecked vessels from the navigable area of the River Itchen, which we consider to affect the safety of navigation. “

“To date, we have removed two wrecked vessels, and we will be removing two further wrecked vessels in the forthcoming weeks.”

In response to further enquiries from The Echo in April, ABP were not able to give a time scale for the removal.

They added that “all boats are checked in accordance with health and safety protocols, before being removed.”

Conservative councillor for Bitterne Park, Rob Harwood said: “It’s now time ABP got on with what they promised and started removing boats.

“This problem has been going on for long enough – we need action now to clean up this stretch of river.”