General Boat Articles

Historic Partnership Targets Abandoned Vessels

ARTICLE INSPIRED BY WATERWAY GUIDE

In a notable collaboration, the BoatUS Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have launched a new initiative to remove over 300 abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) from waterways across the United States. This marks the first nationwide, multi-state effort of its kind, with a four-year project to address the hazards these vessels pose to navigation, safety, and the environment.

The project, which is being funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, will provide grants to dozens of coastal communities in six states and two U.S. territories. A diverse panel of experts, including salvage professionals and state boating advocates, selected the grant recipients to ensure the funding goes to communities most in need of this support. Both recreational and commercial ADVs are slated for removal as salvage crews begin work later this year.

Abandoned boat

A Coordinated Cleanup Effort

This program is not just about physical removal; it also includes the creation of a national database to track ADVs and a public education campaign. The project will document prevention and removal efforts to share with the public, with the goal of fostering a national conversation about marine debris.

According to BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach Alanna Keating, "This is the first coordinated ADV removal effort across the country and across time zones to address the issue head on." This initiative includes the 2nd Annual "Turning the Tide" Summit, set for December 2026 in New Orleans, where attendees will have access to a variety of resources, insightful panel discussions, and keynote presentations centered on ADVs and marine waste streams.

Key Areas of Impact

Salvage crews are expected to begin work on ADV removal projects across each of the designated grant areas later this year, following the completion of local environmental reviews. The selected grant recipients include:

  • Metlakatla Indian Community, Alaska
  • City & Borough of Yakutat, Alaska
  • Sitka Conservation Society, Alaska
  • Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, Louisiana
  • Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation, Washington
  • State of Maine
  • U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources
  • North Carolina Coastal Federation
  • Oregon Department of State Lands
  • Port Authority of Guam