Derelict vessels

King County Sheriff’s Office is a partner in a regional Derelict Vessel Prevention Program, designed to assist the owners of these hazardous vessels in removing them from the water.

Determining Vessels of Interest

Vessels of interest are those which appear to be in severe disrepair, may be moored illegally, or have not been registered recently. Leaking engine or waste fluids, significant algae/plant growth or a vessel which has not moved for weeks, months or years might also be indications of a derelict vessel.

Owner Contact

Once the vessels are identified, attempts are made to contact the owners of the vessels. In many cases, being made aware of the fact that their vessel is considered derelict is enough to prompt the owners to take steps to deal with the hazardous vessel on their own.

For derelict vessel owners without sufficient resources, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources offers a Vessel Turn-In Program which may help to dispose of their dangerous vessels.

Derelict Vessel Removal

If all required attempts at contact fail or the owners of the vessels are unable or unwilling to remove their boats from the water, the Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Department of Natural Resources may remove and dispose of the vessel in accordance with state law.