There are many factors that contribute to the existence of ADVs, but one high-volume source is marinas. Managers of certified Clean Marina facilities
are eligible to apply for the new Abandoned Vessel Removal Assistance Program.
Vessels moored in marinas are often “out of sight, out of mind" for owners who rarely visit them and often fail to keep them registered and insured. When vessel owners stop paying moorage fees, marinas are compelled to take possession of low-value vessels that cost far more to dispose of than they are worth. When these vessels are sold or given away, instead of being properly disposed of, in many cases they end up sinking, beached, or used for illegal camping. These abandoned and derelict boats become a threat to the environment, navigation, and safe recreational boating.
In an effort to minimize the hazards and high costs associated with responding to future ADVs, in 2020 the Marine Board proposed an Initiative to remove unwanted abandoned vessels from marinas while the vessels are still securely moored and afloat. Under this initiative, the Marine Board will coordinate the removal of legally abandoned vessels from eligible marinas who adopt a suite of new management practices to help reduce the number of vessels that might become abandoned in the future. Eligible marinas under this new initiative would be those that participate in the Marine Board's Clean Marina certification program and are located along the Oregon Coast and in the lower Columbia River basin.
Marine Board staff submitted a proposal to the NOAA Marine Debris Program and was awarded $50,000 to put toward the new Abandoned Vessel Removal Assistance Program. The Marine Board is contributing a 50% match of $50,000 in ADV funding . This is a two-year NOAA grant. Staff are working on soliciting applications from eligible marinas which will then be scored with the help of agency partners. Vessels will be evaluated and prioritized in the spring of 2021, with removal taking place in the late spring and early summer months.
Learn more from the Marine Board's Clean Marina Coordinator on Conservation Cafe's Podcast!