Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Abandoned Derelict Boats

Oregon's Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program

Picture of a derelict boat
The Department of State Lands leads the statewide ADV Program that collaborates with other state agencies as well as community and federal partners to: 
Reduce the impacts of abandoned and derelict vessels (boats)

  • Address waterway hazards
  • Promote responsible use of our waterways
  • Collaborate toward long-term solutions to prevent more ADVs to Oregon-owned waters. 

The state's Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Fund helps community-led efforts to remove hazardous boats and get critical funding. While the state always pursues holding boat owners responsible, significant resources are required to remove vessels from waterways and pay for the costs of salvage, transportation, hazardous material removal, dismantling, and disposal. There can be high and unforeseen expenses along the way. Many recreational vessels cost thousands to remove, while former commercial or former military vessels can cost millions of dollars.

The Marine Board's focus is on recreational boats. Recreational boats become derelict or abandoned for many reasons and can cause various problems as already stated. ADVs can also cause damage to public and private property when they sink or go adrift. In marinas, they take up valuable slip space and can be a source of pollution. They also decrease the area's aesthetic value and create navigation hazards for other boaters. 

Boat ownership comes with financial responsibility. Any structure, including a boat in a water environment, requires special care and maintenance for a long, useful life. Boat owners need to plan on spending money on the basics for boat seaworthiness. 

Therefore, it's important to have an end-of-life plan for the boat, including its removal from the water, dismantling, and proper disposal. Check with boatyards and disposal companies for estimates on dismantling and disposing of your boat when it can no longer be maintained. 

Reducing Abandoned and Derelict Vessels on Oregon’s Waters

Boat owners and marinas can help protect Oregon-owned waterways and prevent new abandoned and derelict vessels from entering Oregon-owned waters. Here are some ways you can help:

  • Thinking about buying a boat? Research annual maintenance needs before making a purchase. Estimate the cost of regular repairs, tune-ups, and moorage fees and assess whether this fits in your budget and priorities.
  • Already own a boat? Make sure you’re staying on top of needed repairs. That’s the best way to fix an issue before it becomes a bigger problem.
  • Own or manage a marina? Help support clean, safe waterways by becoming certified as an Oregon Clean Marina.

​Abandoned vessels are those left without authorization on public or private land, or State waters.  Derelict vessels are those vessels that are sinking, actively polluting, obstructing a waterway, or endangering life or property.

An enforcement agency has the authority to seize vessels that meet these definitions.

​• Keep your registration current. All boats moored, operated or otherwise used in Oregon waters, are required to register with the Marine Board. OAR 250-010-0051. This includes Fed​erally Documented Vessels.​ Learn more about documented vessel registration.​

• Have insurance on your vessel.

• Keep your vessel in good working condition; ensure it is seaworthy and can move under its own power.

• Ensure the boat's hull is cleaned at least once a year (preferably more) with non-abrasive material, routinely replace zincs, and ensure the prop and shaft are free from corrosion and marine fouling. Divers can help with in-water hull cleaning, inspection and zinc replacement. Boat hulls with extensive marine growth should be removed from the water (dry docked) for repairs, proper hazardous material removal and containment by a reputable boatyard.

• If you are selling your boat, make sure the boat is going to good hands and inform the Marine Board of the transfer of ownership (Bill of Sale). If you don't, you could end up with the bill for removing the vessel if it becomes abandoned or derelict down-the-road.

• Have an end-of-life plan for your vessel. For ways to dispose of your vessel see the information on boat disposal options.

  • Dispose of hazardous materials properly (batteries, instrumentation, fuels, etc.).
  • Recycle any valuable parts or metals.
  • Dismantle the boat. Most land fills do not allow an in-tact boat hull, meaning the boat will need to be sawed into smaller pieces and loaded onto a trailer for disposal. 
  • Bring vessel to a marine salvage shop or boat yard for dismantling.

​Vessels that are actively sinking or pose an immediate safety threat: Dial 911

Vessels that are actively sheening oil or other chemicals: Call the National Response Center, 1(800)424-8802, or 911

 Report all other vessels of concern to DSL​

------

Signs that a boat is at risk of becoming, or already is, an abandoned or derelict vessel include:

• Listing to one side;

• Bilge pump that runs frequently to expel water from the hull;

• Severe external deterioration of wood, paint, or other materials;

• Unusual quantities of growth of algae, moss, grass, or other plant material covering the boat;

• Leaking fluids such as oil, fuel, or waste;

• Drifting from moorage or docks;

• Appearance of being illegally moored;

• No movement in more than 30 days.

​Oregon law authorizes the Oregon State Marine Board to establish and maintain an Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Fund. Funds from this account, which are collected from recreational boater titling and registration fees, are used to reimburse public enforcement agencies for expenses related to the removal of abandoned or derelict vessels. The Oregon State Marine Board sets aside $150,000 each biennium in order to provide funds to reimburse up to 90% of the costs associated with investigating, salvaging, towing, removing, storing or disposing of abandoned or derelict vessels, statewide.

Under this program, the last titled owner of the vessel is liable to the enforcement agency for all costs arising out of the seizure and removal of the vessel.

​No. By-in-large, boats that are seized by the Marine Board or other authorities are rarely in seaworthy condition and often have very little value. The costs of repairs needed to make these boats seaworthy often exceed the boat's worth. Most of the watercraft that are seized were sold for cheap or given away to people without the means to maintain the boat, and they wind up sinking or are abandoned on unauthorized land. The best solution from having to seize the same vessel twice, is to dismantle, recycle and dispose of the boat is the preferred option.


Oregon’s ADV Program is administered by the Oregon State Marine Board, which then delegates authority for the removal and/or disposal of the vessel in question to the relevant enforcement agency under ORS 830.908 to ORS 830.948. The Oregon State Marine Board can be contacted by phone at 503-378-8587 or by email at marine.board@boat.oregon.gov.

Facebook

Resources

Department of State Lands ADV Program


Report a Vessel

  Vessels that are actively sinking or pose an immediate safety threat: Dial 911

  Vessels that are actively sheening oil or other chemicals: Call the National Response Center, 1(800)424-8802, or 911

  Report all other vessels of concern to DSL



2024 Pre-Seizure Notices

OR 038 ADG Colt

Seizure Notices

None at this time

2024 Post-Seizure Notices: