The following vessels have custody actions pending under the Derelict Vessel Act (RCW 70.10.040). If the owner takes no action, the vessel will be seized by the authorized public entity listed in the notice.  Once custody is obtained, the agency may use or dispose of the vessel in any appropriate and environmentally sound manner without further notice to any owners.

 

The owner of any vessel listed below may prevent the custody action by following the directions outlined in the notice.

Date   Posted	Vessel Name | Notice	Registration	Location	Custody   Date
4/17/19	Mione, a 1960 Ives powerboat	WN 4477 JH	Sinclair Inlet, Port Orchard, Kitsap Co	5/16/19
4/15/19	Bell Boy | image, ~21 fiberglass cabin cruiser	WN 6535 JE	Port of Bellingham Linear Moorage, Whatcom Co	5/12/19
4/15/19	Unknown, ~28 foot cabin cruiser	WN 8676 RS	Swantown Boatworks, Olympia, Thurston Co	5/13/19
4/15/19	Encore, ~52 foot cabin cruiser	USCG #515256	Sinclair Inlet, Port Orchard, Kitsap Co	5/16/19
4/15/19	Top Notch, ~75 foot sunk cabin cruiser	USCG #975018	Sinclair Inlet, Port Orchard, Kitsap Co	5/16/19
4/15/19	Unknown, ~27 foot fiberglass Lancer sailboat	WN 2499 ME	Sinclair Inlet, Port Orchard, Kitsap Co	5/16/2019
4/15/19	Sunscape, a 1976 ~27 foot sailboat	WN 1714 NF	Sinclair Inlet, Port Orchard, Kitsap Co	5/16/19
4/11/19	Sea Whore	WN 9197 MF	Miller Bay, Skagit County	5/6/19
3/25/19	De Nada	USCG #1180389	Kopachuck State Park Buoy, Pierce Co	4/22/19
3/25/19	Unknown, ~38 foot Chris Craft	WN 9554 RJ	Dewatto Bay, Mason Co	4/22/19
3/20/19	Contraire, a ~32 foot JC Rodgers fiberglass sailboat	WN 2860 NE	Port of Port Townsend Marina, Jefferson Co	4/17/19
3/11/19	Frankie	WN 6671 N	Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Co	3/25/19

 

Owner Liability.  If the owner does not take action to remove a vessel declared derelict or abandoned, he or she may be liable for costs such as: 

• Administrative costs incurred in the custody action.
• Removal and disposal costs.
• Costs associated with environmental damages directly or indirectly caused by the vessel. 

The owner may also be subject to a criminal misdemeanor charge for causing a vessel to become abandoned or derelict.

 

Appeals. A vessel owner may contest an agency’s decision to take temporary possession or custody of a vessel, or to contest the amount of reimbursement owed to an agency through an appeals process, which is spelled out in the notice of intent to obtain custody.  The type of appeal and the appeal period depends on which authorized public entity takes the action. 

 

In general, if the contested decision or action was undertaken by a state agency or a local agency that does not have an internal appeals process,  a written appeal must be filed with the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB). The appeal must be received no later than 30 days after the custody date.  See the vessel’s custody notice for details. PCHB frequently asked questions.