SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 30, 2024 – September is Emergency Preparedness Month – an opportunity to learn about the ways you can prepare yourself, your property, and your community for emergencies. San Juan County is taking steps to prevent emergencies on the water by managing a Derelict Vessel Program.
In honor of Emergency Preparedness Month, the program is kicking off plans for another Free Vessel Turn-in opportunity in 2025 after a successful event last spring. Do you have a boat that is in poor condition but don’t have the resources to repair or dispose of it properly? Now is the time to prepare and explore your options!
2024 Vessel Turn-In Event
In April of 2024, 14 vessels of various types and sizes from all over San Juan County were accepted into a voluntary Vessel Recycling Turn-In Event held at the Port of Friday Harbor. Of the nearly 50 tons of scrap wood, metal and plastic, 47.81 tons were successfully recycled by working with the sorting and recycling programs run through DTG Recycling in Tacoma, WA.
“Our goal was to make it easier for qualifying local boat owners to responsibly dispose of their old boats for recycling before they caused environmental or navigational problems,” said the Derelict Vessel Coordinator for the County, Kari Koski. “This was accomplished at no cost to the owners or the County.”
Additionally, over 240 gallons of mixed fuels and other hazardous liquids including various aerosols, solvents, and cleaning products, 22 fire extinguishers, one propane tank, and 443 pounds of marine batteries were safely disposed of rather than ending up in the marine environment.
This turn-in event was a pilot program, thanks to the joint efforts of the San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, Port of Friday Harbor, Northwest Straits Commission, and Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Vessel Turn-in Events Protect the Environment
Abandoned and derelict vessels can pose a significant threat to our coastal environments and communities. These vessels not only deteriorate over time, leaking pollutants into the water, but they also obstruct waterways, endanger marine life, and diminish the recreational value of our coastlines. DNR currently has more than 300 vessels of concern identified for removal in Washington’s waterways.
Vessel Turn-in Events Save Money
Taking early action to prevent vessels from becoming abandoned significantly reduces costs to vessel owners and derelict vessel management programs like those run by San Juan County and DNR.
“In San Juan County, salvaging one 20–30-foot abandoned vessel can range anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 or more,” Koski explained.
The cost of recovering and disposing of abandoned derelict vessels varies depending on vessel condition, size, and if the vessel is aground or sunk.
“The cost savings from hosting the vessel turn in event in San Juan allowed our team of partners to reduce costs to approximately $4,300 per vessel, or roughly one quarter of the typical recovery and disposal cost,” said Adam Parrot from the Port of Friday Harbor and a San Juan County Marine Resources Committee member.
Funding for this program was provided in part by DNR’s Vessel Turn-In Program and Northwest Straits Commission via federal funding from NOAA.
The Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) is managed by DNR to help prevent boats from becoming derelict or abandoned and to keep pollution out of our marine habitats. Have an old boat? Find out if you qualify: Recovering Derelict Vessels | WA - DNR
The County is planning to host another Free Vessel Turn-in opportunity in 2025. More information will be made available when the date and location is set. Have you seen a derelict or abandoned vessel in San Juan County? Report it and find out more about local prevention efforts at Derelict Vessel Program | San Juan County, WA (sanjuancountywa.gov)
Contact/Partner Information
San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship
Oversees various focus areas of the County including solid waste management, marine resources, clean water initiatives, cultural resource preservation, and climate sustainability efforts. In collaboration with local authorities and the State Department of Natural Resources, the San Juan County Derelict Vessel Program tackles problematic vessels, with removals funded primarily by the state with contributions from an interlocal agreement involving the Port of Friday Harbor, the Town of Friday Harbor, and the County. In addition, the program's prevention arm, aimed at addressing vessels before they deteriorate into derelicts, works in partnership with the San Juan Marine Resources Committee and receives funding from community donations, grants, as well as the County. Learn more about the San Juan County Derelict Vessel Program
Contact: Kari Koski, Derelict Vessel Coordinator, San Juan County Environmental Stewardship Department, karik@sanjuancountywa.gov, 360-468-1690
Contact: Erin Andrews, San Juan County Communications Coordinator, erina@sanjuancountywa.gov, 360-370-7404
San Juan County MRC Derelict Vessel Sub-committee
The San Juan Marine Resources Committee (MRC) leads a Derelict Vessel Sub-Committee that engages in derelict vessel prevention work in the county. The MRC subcommittee works closely with San Juan County’s derelict vessel program coordinator to track vessels of concern and communicate turn in options to owners. Learn more about the subcommittees work: Derelict Vessel Recovery | SJC MRC.
Contact: Sam Whitridge, Marine Program Coordinator, San Juan County Environmental Stewardship Department, samw@sanjuancountywa.gov, 360-317-3242
Port of Friday Harbor
The Port of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is the largest town in the San Juan archipelago and acts as the county seat. Housing 20 businesses at the Marina and 15 at the Airport. With 18 year-round staff and an additional 10 employed during the summer, the Port is a hub for commerce and tourism in the region. Learn more about the Port of Friday Harbor.
Contact: Tam Hayes, Harbormaster, Port of Friday Harbor, tamih@portfridayharbor.org, 360-378-2688
Northwest Straits Commission
A community-led collaboration working to protect and restore the marine environment of northwest Washington. The NW Straits Initiative is made up of the NW Straits Commission, Foundation and seven local Marine Resources Committees. We protect and restore the marine environment of northwest Washington by collaborating with tribal, economic, recreational, and environmental interests in on-the-ground restoration, education, and monitoring projects.
The Northwest Straits Commission formed a derelict vessel workgroup with representatives from the seven MRCs and tribal partners to identify and prioritize removal and prevention actions for derelict vessels in the Northwest Straits region. In 2023 a total of 13 derelict vessels were removed. Learn more about the Northwest Straits Commission
Contact: Jessica Owens, Communications Coordinator, Northwest Straits Commission, owens@nwstraits.org, 564-900-0575
Department of Natural Resources
As steward of the state’s 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands, the state Department of Natural Resources manages the Derelict Vessel Removal Program. Since launching the program in 2002, DNR has removed more than 1,000 abandoned or neglected vessels from Washington’s waterways, making beaches, navigation channels and precious aquatic habitats safer and healthier.
Contact: Troy Wood, Derelict Vessel Removal Program Manager, Washington Department of Natural Resources, troy.wood@dnr.wa.gov, 360-902-2628
Contact: Joe Smillie, Communications Manager, Washington Department of Natural Resources, joe.smillie@dnr.wa.gov, 360-688-3392