Heavy debris removed from Ship Island’s swim beach in time for Memorial Day
Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend, the National Park Service has removed heavy debris from Ship Island that Mississippi River flooding washed up.
The debris — mostly driftwood, splintered wood and marsh grass — forced ferry service Ship Island Excursions to relocate beach chairs and umbrellas from the island’s south side on the Gulf of Mexico to the north beach on the Mississippi Sound, where the water is generally calm and crystal clear.
The mouth of the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf southwest of Ship Island off Louisiana shores. The debris cluttered the tideline on the south side of the island.
Ship Island Excursions employees were able to remove smaller debris. The Park Service stepped in with heavy equipment to pick up larger limbs and pieces of wood.
Ferry service running daily from Gulfport
Ship Island is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, which runs from Florida through Mississippi. The barrier islands off Mississippi shores also include Horn, Cat, Petis Bois and Deer, which sits just south of downtown Biloxi.
“It takes a village,” the Park Service wrote Tuesday on Facebook, saying 15 Gulf Islands National Seashore staff members and four Ship Island Excursions employees worked on the cleanup Friday.
The post also suggested people volunteer this summer for barrier island cleanups, which the Park Service holds in partnership with Mississippi State University.
Cleanups are planned on each of the barrier islands throughout the summer into fall. The Ship Island cleanup will be Saturday, June 14.
The National Park Service places a priority on removing human trash and inorganic debris but otherwise leaves the islands in their natural states.
Daily ferry service is offered only to Ship Island, which has a snack bar, picnic pavilion and restrooms on the south side. The barrier islands are otherwise undeveloped.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM.
