SPRINGFIELD, Va.— More than 300 abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) will be removed from U.S. waters in a groundbreaking cleanup effort funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and administered through the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.
The four-year initiative, the first of its kind, will support projects across five states, one reservation, and two U.S. territories, targeting vessels that threaten navigation, safety, and the environment. Local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations in Alaska, Louisiana, Washington, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam will receive funding to mobilize salvage crews and carry out removal operations.
“This is the first coordinated ADV removal effort across the country and across time zones to address the issue head on,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach Alanna Keating. “There’s never been an effort before at this scale, and we’re proud of making it happen for the boating public and affected communities.”
The program will also establish a national database to track vessel removals and promote education on boat disposal. A highlight will be the 2nd Annual “Turning the Tide” summit in December 2026 in New Orleans, focused on marine debris solutions.
