Derelict Vessels and Ship Disposal in Washington State: Opportunities and Constraints

Abstract

Abandoned and derelict vessels constitute a serious environmental threat to the waterways of Washington State. Although the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) leads removal efforts through its Derelict Vessel Removal Program, the agency is ill equipped to deal with large steel vessels over 65 feet long. This paper uses a policy analysis method to explore the possibility of a facility in Washington State dedicated to the safe remediation and disposal of these larger derelict vessels, in the context of other possible alternatives. The main issues that accompany derelict vessels are first explored in depth. The pros and cons of such a facility are then weighed and the key considerations in the feasibility of a facility are drawn out, all with the conditions that would define a successful policy choice in mind. The extraction of these factors of feasibility leads to the conclusion that the a facility as visualized is unlikely to be able to clear the many hurdles it faces, and only an aggressive attempt at a partnership with existing shipyards is likely to succeed.