JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A stray sailboat is causing big headaches for one of Jacksonville’s longest-running marine businesses — and it’s costing them time and money.
Cross State Towing, based on the banks of the St. Johns River in Arlington, has operated for more than 60 years. The company runs eight tugboats and 12 barges — some stretching up to 265 feet long — and helps guide Navy ships and other vessels along the river.
But lately, getting those barges in and out of the slip hasn’t been so simple.
A sailboat has been anchored — or possibly dragged anchor — directly in the path Cross State needs to move its equipment. Captain Travis Hastings said the blockage effectively shuts down operations.
“Right now, if we were to come in and try to take this barge out, our assist boat wouldn’t be able to assist us because that is in the way,” Hastings said.
The situation is as frustrating as it sounds. Hastings compared it to pulling out of your driveway every morning — only to find a car parked at the end of it, every single day.
Time Is Money on the River
Cross State Towing holds a submerged land lease with the state of Florida, giving the company consistent, legal access to its section of the river to operate. When a vessel blocks that access, the company can’t just move it.
“My office is gonna have to call the state and try to get somebody on the phone that can get out there and contact the owner and get it moved,” Hastings said. “That can take days. I’ve seen it take weeks.”
City of Jacksonville Dock Master Jim Suber said the frustration is understandable — and the stakes are real.
“They can’t obstruct a dock operation from being able to get to and from their dock,” Suber said. “They don’t make money if they’re not operating.”
New State Law Aims to Fix the Problem
A new state law that went into effect July 1 could make situations like this easier to resolve. Under the law, boat owners who anchor their vessel for 14 days within a 30-day window are required to obtain a long-term anchoring permit — and reapply for it every year.
Suber said the permit requirement gives authorities a new tool to track vessels and enforce standards.
“Now you’re tracking them, and they have to be maintained,” Suber said. “In order to have that permit, there are certain things that have to come into place. It has to be navigable.”
For Captain Hastings and the crew at Cross State Towing, the hope is that the new law means fewer boats in the way — and smoother operations on the St. Johns River.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.