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Derelict Vessel Removal

Nearshore Protection & Restoration

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) defines a derelict vessel as any vessel that is either abandoned or left in a state of disrepair, posing a hazard to navigation, public safety, or the environment.

WA DNR manages a Derelict Vessel Removal Program, working with local entities on derelict vessel removal and prevention efforts.

Report a Derelict or Abandoned Vessel

Dana Daniels

Photo credit: Dana Daniels

2025 Vessel Turn-In Recycling Event

During the summer of 2025, a Vessel Turn-In Recycling Event was held in Whatcom County. This event provided an opportunity for vessel owners to voluntarily turn in their vessels for proper disposal and recycling at no cost to the owner. The vessels that were accepted were brought to the Port of Bellingham where hazardous materials were safely removed, vessels were deconstructed, and the vast majority of materials were sorted for recycling. This event was part of the Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) managed by WA DNR to prevent vessels from becoming derelict or abandoned. A total of 29 vessels were deconstructed during the Whatcom County Vessel Turn-In Event.

Project partners included WA DNR, the Whatcom MRC, the Port of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition, the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE), and the Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC). This vessel turn-in event was funded by WA DNR through the VTIP program, NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, and the NWSC's congressionally directed spending funds administered through NOAA. Additional in-kind support was provided by DOE's Spills Program, the Port of Bellingham, the Whatcom MRC, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition.

Check out a timelapse video of the deconstruction!

Check out media coverage of the event by King 5 and the Bellingham Herald.

Photo credit: Jessica Owens

2023 Vessel Removal: The WanderLust

In 2023, the Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC) received congressionally directed funding to assist with derelict vessel removals within the Northwest Straits region. The NWSC and the Whatcom MRC worked in partnership with WA DNR through an interagency agreement on vessel removal.

One of the vessels removed using this funding was the WanderLust, a 40 foot fiberglass vessel constructed in 1979. During a winter storm in 2018, the WanderLust washed up on a private beach near the Nooksack River delta. The removal was made possible through he coordination of WA DNR, the NWSC, the Whatcom MRC, and Smith Gardens.

Derelict Vessel Removal