Navigational hazards vary, and the Coast Guard coordinates with federal, state, local and tribal partners on how to respond to each occurrence on a case-by-case basis. In certain circumstances, the Coast Guard may destroy or sink a hazard to navigation at sea, as was the case with a Japanese vessel in the Gulf of Alaska in March 2011. Simple debris that poses no hazard to navigation would be managed by the states and/or local authority (or affected private or federal owners) in accordance with their laws, regulations, and procedures.
Abandoned and Derelict Vessels
Thousands of abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) litter ports, waterways, and estuaries all over the country. They threaten our ocean, coasts and waterways by obstructing navigational channels, causing harm to the environment, and diminishing commercial and recreational activities. ADVs originate in a variety of ways, from natural disasters such as hurricanes to boat ownership neglect. These vessels may sink at moorings, becoming semi-submerged in the intertidal zone, or become stranded on shorelines, reefs, or in marshes. ADVs may persist for years, impacting protected harbors and bays and debris from disintegrating vessels can also become widespread. Assessing, removing, and disposing of these vessels requires significant financial and technical resources. Laws pertaining to ADVs vary within each state.
This ADV InfoHub has been created as a central source of information regarding ADVs and the policies surrounding them. It explains how ADVs are handled by each coastal state in an effort to bring together information and to create a comprehensive look at this subject. Be sure to click the map (or use the pull down menu) for a state-by-state snapshot and additional ADV information for each coastal state's ADV legislation, funding, case studies, contact information and other publications.
Pacific and Caribbean
American Samoa
Contact:
Guam
Contact:
Hawai'i
Contact:
Puerto Rico
Contact:
US Virgin Islands
Contact:
ADV Publications
ADV Case Studies
Image Gallery
Blog
- The Removal of the F/V Western
- Abandoned Vessels in the Rouge River: Removing Debris in the Great Lakes
- Cooperative Efforts Result in the Removal of Abandoned Vessels and Other Debris from the Historic Charleston Harbor
- The NOAA Marine Debris Program Launches the New ADV InfoHub!
- Cleaning Up the Marine Mess After Owners Abandon Ship