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Abandoned & Derelict Vessels

Education & Outreach | Community Outreach | Stewardship

Overview

What is an Abandoned & Derelict Vessel?
"Abandoned and derelict vessel" or "ADV" describes a vessel that has been moored, anchored, or abandoned on private property without the owner's consent or are in danger of sinking, obstructing a waterway, or endangering life/property for more than 30 consecutive days.
Full definition of "abandoned" and "derelict" vessels is available at RCW 79.100.010.

What damage can an Abandoned or Derelict Vessel cause?       

  • Pollution poses risk to communities and the nearby environment!
  • Vessels may contain large amounts of oil or toxic substances that if leaked, will harm our marine ecosystems. This contamination can injure or kill marine mammals, birds, or other aquatic life while contaminating nearby shorelines and water quality.
  • Drifting, beached, broken up or sunken vessels (even if they are still partially afloat!) can threaten human safety, impact marine habitats, and can cause navigational hazards! 
  • Drifting vessels that lodge themselves into shallow shorelines or sink and settle on the bottom may crush sensitive environments like eelgrass or kelp beds - important habitats for species like forage fish and endangered juvenile salmon!

What damage can an Abandoned or Derelict Vessel cause?       

  • Pollution poses risk to communities and the nearby environment!
  • Vessels may contain large amounts of oil or toxic substances that if leaked, will harm our marine ecosystems. This contamination can injure or kill marine mammals, birds, or other aquatic life while contaminating nearby shorelines and water quality.
  • Drifting, beached, broken up or sunken vessels (even if they are still partially afloat!) can threaten human safety, impact marine habitats, and can cause navigational hazards! 
  • Drifting vessels that lodge themselves into shallow shorelines or sink and settle on the bottom may crush sensitive environments like eelgrass or kelp beds - important habitats for species like forage fish and endangered juvenile salmon!

Related Links

 

Have a vessel you want to turn in?

The Vessel Turn In Program (VTIP) managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources helps prevent vessels from becoming abandoned or derelict to keep polliution of our marine habitats!

Learn more about Washington DNR's Vessel Turn-In Program here!

Reporting Information

For emergency situations, contact 911 
and the US Coast Guard at
(206) 217-6001 or Channel 16 VHF-FM.
 
REPORT A VESSEL OF CONCERN
Please use WA DNR's Derelict & Abandoned Reporting Tool (DART)

REPORT OIL SPILLS (24-hour response)
US National Response Center
800-424-8802
Washington Department of Ecology
800-OILS-911

To report an abandoned or derelict vessel, please click the link below. Please provide as much information as possible. You may add up to six photographs. Make sure to hit the "Report It" button before you exit.

REPORT VESSEL

 

For Private Moorage Facilities:

To view a checklist with specific information for disposing abandoned or derelict boats as a private moorage facility, visit the "How to Dispose of an Abandoned or Derelict Boat (Private) Card PDF" located on the righthand side of the webpage under "Related Files."

For cases when you are unable to find the last registered owner, you can submit a Junk Vehicle Affidavit, which will permit you to dispose of the vessel without a title.

For Public Moorage Facilities:

To view a checklist with specific information for disposing abandoned or derelict boats as a public moorage facility, visit the "How to Dispose of an Abandoned or Derelict Boat (Public Entities) Card PDF" located on the righthand side of the webpage under "Related Files."

For Individuals:

DNR can help approved owners dispose of their vessels safely and legally, offering reimbursement for the costs. Visit the Vessel Turn-In Program webpage to learn more information about the application and to see if you meet the eligibility criteria requirements to participate in the program. 
The VTIP Eligibility Criteria flyer and the VTIP Application are located on the righthand side of the webpage under "Related Files."

Notices of Intent To Seize

Vessels with custody actions pending under RCW 79.100 are posted on the WA DNR webpage. To view the vessels with pending action, please visit the Notices of Intent.

Derelict Vessel Inventory

To view current DNR Inventory and Removal Lists, including the Fund Balances for the program, please visit Derelict Vessel Inventory and Funding.

Abandoned & Derelict Vessels