Oregon — Abandoned and derelict boats continue to damage Oregon’s rivers, bays, and coastlines, prompting expanded state action to remove hazardous vessels and prevent future pollution.
From large commercial vessels such as the 100-foot Dredge Herb Anderson, removed from the Columbia River last year, to smaller recreational boats, abandoned watercraft can leak toxins, obstruct navigation channels, and degrade water quality.
The Oregon Department of State Lands has led statewide efforts since launching the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel (ADV) Program in September 2024.
“We can’t continue polluting our Oregon waterways or risking a large marine accident,” said Kaitlin Lovell, recently appointed director of the department. “The scope of this issue has motivated bipartisan legislators and community members along impacted waterways to come together for solutions.”
During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers approved two significant statutory changes that took effect September 26, 2025. The first allows severely degraded abandoned vessels to be classified as marine debris, enabling faster and more cost-effective disposal. The second reduces administrative barriers by allowing authorized entities statewide to remove hazardous vessels without lengthy approval processes.
“The legislative wins for this program might sound like words on a page, but these are the systematic changes we need to get these dilapidated vessels out of our waters,” said David Gomberg, a Democrat. Republican Dick Anderson echoed that view, saying, “This issue requires all of us to stay vigilant for ways to be more effective, and removing red tape is a good place to start.”
In addition to legislative reforms, Oregon’s ADV Program secured a $1 million grant from the BoatUS Foundation, supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program. The funding will support the removal and disposal of dozens of high-priority abandoned vessels across multiple Oregon counties.
“Some of the really large vessels can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars when there is toxic material,” said Aaron Bretz, deputy director of the Port of Newport. “That requires significant funding, along with coordination among the Coast Guard, sheriff’s offices, environmental regulators, and specialized contractors.”
To improve coordination, the Department of State Lands recently updated its ADV Program website with new procedures reflecting the changes in state law.
Officials say a remaining challenge is preventing abandoned vessels from entering Oregon waterways in the first place.
“We pursue penalties against owners who fail to resolve their problems,” said Josh Mulhollem, the department’s waterways stewardship program manager. “But many of the biggest cleanups involve vessels whose owners are already insolvent. People often underestimate the financial risk of buying a cheap ship at auction.”
Despite ongoing challenges, state officials say the combination of new legal tools, dedicated funding, and cross-agency partnerships is building momentum toward cleaner, safer waterways across Oregon.
About the Author
