Sea Girt has moved closer to removing the abandoned sailboat stuck on its beach after a court ruled the vessel must be turned over to the borough.

Police say Capt. Lawrence Kaehler has pleaded guilty to an ordinance violation and has been fined thousands of dollars.

The boat, known as the Alestorm, became stranded on the beach in September. It has since weathered nor’easters and a blizzard.

The sailboat came ashore after Kaehler left Staten Island bound for Cocoa Beach on Sept. 20 and was pushed off course by a storm. The 30‑foot Catalina has been partially buried in sand with a broken rudder, and the wind continues to tear at its remaining sails.

The owner had said earlier that a misinterpretation of the law was the reason the boat remained on the beach.

Sea Girt previously estimated the cost of removal at around $15,000. It remains unclear when the town will take the vessel off the beach.