Watch as a boat is dismantled in Bellingham as part of derelict vessel program
A boat that was ripped apart by an excavator Wednesday morning at the Port of Bellingham is one of 29 the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC) collected as part of the Vessel Turn-in Program.
Boat owners statewide without the financial resources to properly dispose of unused boats can apply for the program. The state disposes of the boats properly and they are recycled free of charge.
Boats that are abandoned without proper disposal can pose environmental and safety threats, according to DNR. The gas or diesel in the boats can cause water contamination, and drifting boat pieces cause navigational risks for others in the water.
Disposing of the boats through the Vessel Turn-in Program costs the DNR $5,000 per boat. According to Dana Oster, marine program manager at NWSC, that’s much less than if the boat sinks in the water.
“The costs become exorbitant when a boat sinks.” Oster said. “They can cost $10,000 to $30,000 at least, plus spills and debris.”
It’s Whatcom county’s first time being involved with the program, but previous events in other counties gathered a total of 73 vessels. Whatcom County’s program started July 28.
DNR partners with community organizations in counties where the Vessel Turn-in Program is active to get the word out. Oster says partnering with local organizations helps figure out where to advertise.
For Whatcom County, those agencies and organizations included the Port of Bellingham, Whatcom Marine Resources Committee, the Nooksack Indian Tribe and Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition.
“It’s a really hard audience to find people that both have a boat that could benefit from being recycled and people that are then willing to, because it’s just a hard thing to do emotionally, letting go of a boat,” Oster said.
The Vessel Turn-in Program is funded by a mix of in-kind support from community organizations and federal funding.
“We’re hoping to repeat it in a couple of years, funding dependent,” said Dana Flerchinger, marine resources planner for the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee.
To report an abandoned vessel or surrender a boat, visit dnr.wa.gov/derelict-vessels or call 360-902-2628.
This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
