Clear sailing for Rockefeller’s derelict vessels bill

OLYMPIA – Potential oil spills caused by abandoned vessels may be less of a threat to our waterways now that Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed legislation to beef up the removal of several hundred derelict or abandoned vessels.

“We’ve made a lot of headway in the past 3 years, but to deal with the backlog of such vessels, it’s clear we need to expand the program. This is just one of the things we must do to protect Puget Sound and other waterways,” said Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, the bill’s sponsor.

More than 250 derelict vessels have been removed from state waters by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or other authorized entities. However, more than 150 additional derelict vessels have been identified for removal – including a dozen large vessels longer than 75 feet. Due to the limited funding, only vessels that posed an immediate threat to the environment, human health, safety and navigation were being removed. Additional funding will allow DNR to speed up its efforts to clean up and dispose of the remaining vessels.

Over the next six years, Senate Bill 6044 adds a $1 surcharge on the current vessel registration fees and recaptures $1 million annually from the watercraft excise tax that boaters pay each year, all dedicated to whittling down the backlog.

“This is sound legislation because it protects the owner’s legal rights and at the same time, it gets environmental and navigational hazards out of the water,” Rockefeller said.

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