Submerged vessels in Chicago waters
At Captain Tom's, we know a submerged vessel in Chicago's waterways doesn't wait. Lake Michigan and the Chicago River see heavy boat traffic, and a sunken boat sitting on the bottom near a dock or open channel is both a navigational hazard and an environmental hazard fast. Fuel, oil, and fluids start leaking within hours. We handle emergency response and full underwater recovery for boat owners across Chicago and the surrounding areas, including yachts and catamarans, wrecks, and everything in between.
Our local team specializes in complex underwater recovery. Whether your boat went down at a marina, at a dock, or in open water, our certified divers are ready to move.
Our comprehensive boat removal services
Our boat removal services include everything from sunken vessel recovery to junk boat removal and proper disposal. Here's what we handle.
- Sunken boat recovery — This is our core work. We use professional-grade lift bags, cranes, and rigging to raise submerged vessels from Chicago's waterways safely. Our sunken boat removal process is designed to protect the hull and keep the surrounding area clean, whether we're dealing with small crafts or larger yachts and catamarans.
- Wreck removal and abandoned vessel cleanup — Wrecked, storm-damaged, or abandoned vessel situations call for careful planning. Our team handles the full scope, including the decision to dismantle the boat on-site when that's the safest route. We manage the complex logistics so you don't have to, and we can assist with insurance claim support documentation throughout the process.
- Junk boat removal and hauling — Our boat disposal service covers more than submerged vessels. Got an old junk boat, a dead sailboat, or a jet ski sitting in your yard or slip? We haul away all of it. Whether it's on land or water, our professional removal crew gets it gone without the headache.
- Recycling and environmentally responsible disposal — After any removal job, proper disposal isn't optional for us. We recycle as much of the vessel as we can and make sure all hazardous materials are handled in full compliance with environmental regulations. We do this on every job, from small runabouts to full-size commercial boats.
Why Captain Tom's handles wreck removal better
Not every job is a straightforward haul. When you're dealing with submerged vessels, wreck removal, or anything that requires real muscle and know-how, you need a crew built for challenging recoveries. Here's why Captain Tom's is the right call.
- Expertise in difficult recoveries — Our crew has handled the full range: sunken boat removal, junk boat removal, complex rigging in tight slips, and underwater obstacles that stop general junk haulers cold. We've seen it all on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
- Specialized heavy-lifting equipment — We bring the right gear to every job. High-capacity cranes for yachts and catamarans, lift bags for delicate operations, and everything in between to keep the boat removal process moving without damage to docks or surrounding vessels.
- Full-service, start to finish — Captain Tom's is a direct service provider, not a middleman. We manage everything from the initial assessment and professional removal through boat disposal or transport, including emergency services when the situation can't wait.
- Direct insurance and permitting support — We produce professional documentation your adjuster can actually use, help you work through the insurance claim, and sort out the required permits so you're not buried in paperwork on top of everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sunken Boat Removal in Chicago
First, make sure everyone is safe and report the incident to the authorities and your insurance company right away. Then call a professional removal team like Captain Tom's. Quick action is crucial to mitigate damage to the vessel and surrounding environment, and it gets the recovery process started before things get worse.
We specialize in complex sunken boat recovery, but our comprehensive removal services go well beyond that. We handle junk boat removal, abandoned vessels, storm-damaged wrecks, yachts and catamarans, and general boat disposal. Submerged vessels of all sizes are well within our wheelhouse.
In most cases, yes. Standard marine insurance policies usually cover recovery to prevent a total loss and reduce liability. We work closely with policyholders on insurance claim support and provide all the documentation for the claim your insurer will need to process it smoothly.
Captain Tom's provides emergency boat removal throughout Chicago and all of Cook County. We run frequent operations in areas like Burnham Harbor and the surrounding marinas along the lakefront. Give us a call and we'll get a rapid response team out to you.