VERO BEACH — A makeshift plywood, sheet metal and foam plastic boat was found Sunday morning on the coast south of Vero Beach, and police were investigating whether it had brought immigrants ashore.

Beachgoers on a morning stroll reported first seeing the ship stranded in the surf line about a mile south of South Beach Park.

An investigation by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office will begin after deputies confirm the sighting of the vessel and determine if it was used for immigration, spokesman Lt. Joe Abollo said shortly. afternoon.

If the ship was carrying people ashore, Abollo said local law enforcement would investigate. If no one managed to land, the decision would be up to the US Coast Guard, he said.

Around 11 a.m., families and sunbathers could be seen stopping to watch the boat, which sat just a few feet from shore. It was filled with sand and sometimes almost covered by the waves.

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The boat was held together in places by zip ties and held afloat by crumbling plastic foam secured by rods on either side of the boat, some of which appeared to have come free and could be seen strewn north of the landing stage .

Ada Kaplan, who saw the boat on a morning walk, said the vessel was not there last night. She said that in three years of living nearby and walking this stretch of shore, it was the first time she had seen an abandoned ship that could have been used for immigration by sea.

Linda Twardowski, who was walking her 9-year-old Labrador mix, Salty, said in seven years of walking the shore, the sighting was also a first. Occasionally, she said, items will likely fall ashore from container ships, such as retail items.

Once there was “Café Bustelo everywhere,” she said, and another time, packets of ramen soup.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Twardowski said. “It’s very sad.”

Unstable weather conditions could have brought the boat ashore. Several storms blew into the area and offshore along the Treasure Coast overnight, said meteorologist Cassie Leahy of the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

Most winds were blowing from the south and southeast, she said. “We’re in a pretty wet pattern.”

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwoodor contact him by phone at 772-978-2246.