Two eyesore boats which have been left to rot on rivers in Truro and Penryn could be demolished and removed at a cost of almost £40,000.

The Durandal, which is in the water alongside Malpas Road in Truro, and the Gamrie Bay, in the Port of Penryn, could be taken out under plans by Cornwall Council’s harbours board.

A report, which will go before the board this evening, recommends that both vessels are demolished and removed.

The report explains that boats can sometimes be abandoned for many reasons including an owner’s ill health or if they move away from Cornwall.

When boats are abandoned the harbour office will try to make contact with the owner or executors, but if all contact is lost then it will apply to the harbours board to sanction the disposal of boats by sale or demolition.

For the two boats, abandonment notices have been placed on the vessels and adverts have been placed in the press to establish ownership or prove abandonment.

The report adds: “The two vessels described in this report are beyond repair and should be demolished to prevent a danger to navigation as their condition deteriorates.”

The Durandal in Truro is described as a 53ft ex-French MFV “lying along Malpas Road in Truro”.

Gamrie Bay is “a large former fishing vessel is approximately 65 feet length overall. This vessel is lying against a private owner’s wall in the port of Penryn. The vessel can viewed from the furniture retailer on Commercial Road, Penryn”.

The report states: “Both vessels are in a very poor state of repair and are likely to fall apart soon. There are no significant pollutants on board either vessel; however a formal check would be carried out for pollutants and waste categories before demolition. The Environment Agency must issue a ‘local enforcement notice’ in each case for demolition in situ. Vessels should normally be broken up in a licensed yard. In the case of both these vessels it is impossible to move them as they do not float and cannot be moved to a breakers yard.”

The harbour master has received three quotes for the demolition of Durandal ranging from £24,500 to £38,000. It has been proposed that the Harbours Board accepts the £24,500 quote from “an experienced demolition contractor”.

Just one quote has been received for the demolition of Garmie Bay for £15,000 – two more quotes are required before a contractor can be appointed.

The Harbours Board is due to meet this evening in Truro.