13,000-pound buoy removed from New Smyrna Beach, taken to Ponce Inlet

Updated: 12:24 PM EST Jan 2, 2020

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TO WATCH IT GO. >> ITS BEEN THE CENTER OF ATTENTION FOR ALL THE SNOW BIRDS FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO. CLAIRE: RED NUMBER 8, AS THE BIG BEACON CAME TO BE CALLED, HAS BEEN THE TALK OF THE TOWN. AFTER ALL, ITS NOT OFTEN A 13,000 POUND MARINE MARKER WASHES UP, THIS ONE ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, DISLODG FOR A SECOND TIME FOLLOWING HURRICANE DORIAN. >> HOW COULD IT BE LOOSE FOR THAT LONG AND NOBODY REALIZE IT, AND REPORTED IT, OR RAN INTO ANOTHER SHIP? CLAIRE: THE COAST GUARD CONTRACTED WITH VOLUSIA COUNTY TO BRING IN A FRONT-END LOADER AND LIFT THE BUOY ONTO A FLATBED STARTING AT FIRST LIGHT. MANY GATHERED TO WATCH THE MARKER MOVE, AMAZED IT GOT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> ITS SO BIG, AND IT WAS S FAR UP ON THE SHORE. IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE IT DROPPED OUT OF THE SKY INSTEAD OF WASHED UP FROM THE OCEAN. CLAIRE: DURING ITS TIME AS A NEW SMYRNA BEACH LANDMARK, PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER TO TAKE PICTURES WITH IT. CHILDREN ENJOYED PLAYING ON IT. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY STRIPPED OF ITS ELECTRONICS IN PREPARATION FOR REMOVAL. WHETHER IT WILL EVER BE USED FOR NAVIGATION AGAIN IS UNCERTAIN, BUT ITS OFF THE BEACH -- AT LEAST FOR NOW. THE CREW DROVE THE BUOY TO T PONCE INLET COAST GUARD STATION, WHERE IT WILL BE SECURED AND STORED

13,000-pound buoy removed from New Smyrna Beach, taken to Ponce Inlet

Updated: 12:24 PM EST Jan 2, 2020

Plenty of people were drawn to New Smyrna Beach on New Year's Day for the sunshine, but also for the 13,000-pound buoy that washed ashore.The beacon washed up last week and red number 8 had brought in a steady stream of visitors since then, among them, Donna Bruno of Clermont. "I just had to see it. (I) wanted to take some pictures with that and clouds in the background, just kind of a neat first day of the new year," Bruno said. According to the Coast Guard, the unexpected tourist attraction belongs off South Carolina but broke free following Hurricane Dorian. Visitors were busy taking pictures with the behemoth buoy and children climbed all over it. The buoy was removed Thursday morning. It was taken to Ponce Inlet, where it will be stored.It is unclear if it will ever be used for navigation again.

Plenty of people were drawn to New Smyrna Beach on New Year's Day for the sunshine, but also for the 13,000-pound buoy that washed ashore.

The beacon washed up last week and red number 8 had brought in a steady stream of visitors since then, among them, Donna Bruno of Clermont.

"I just had to see it. (I) wanted to take some pictures with that and clouds in the background, just kind of a neat first day of the new year," Bruno said.

According to the Coast Guard, the unexpected tourist attraction belongs off South Carolina but broke free following Hurricane Dorian. Visitors were busy taking pictures with the behemoth buoy and children climbed all over it.

The buoy was removed Thursday morning. It was taken to Ponce Inlet, where it will be stored.

It is unclear if it will ever be used for navigation again.

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13,000-pound buoy removed from New Smyrna Beach, taken to Ponce Inlet - WESH 2 Orlando