Derelict boats pose hazards in Oregon’s waterways — and an expensive headache for the Port of Newport

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle

NEWPORT — The Monarch is an eyesore.

The hull is peeling and rusting and inside wires are torn up along the control panel. An empty jug of cranberry juice sits at the wheel. The floorboards are uneven and covered in cords, cables, chains, discarded wrappers and cans.

Port of Newport operations director Aaron Bretz warns a reporter to watch her step as the boat shifts under their weight. It has been a while since the boat had a passenger.

The Monarch is not alone in its predicament. Bretz holds out his fingers as he counts and lists the names of derelict boats left abandoned at the Port like jilted lovers – the Azalea, Sea Wolf, Eclipse.

There are 16 decrepit boats – rusting, taking up space and in danger of sinking along the docks of the Port of Newport. Many have been there for years, and once a vessel sinks it could cost $100,000 to remove.

Once or twice a day Port staff make the rounds to check the derelict vessels along their slips to make sure no one is sleeping in them, that they aren’t leaking or worst of all – sinking.

At 82-feet the Eclipse has a looming presence, massive, covered in green algae as she casts a large shadow and creaks as she sways on the dock. But the bigger they are, the harder they fall. On Christmas Day, the Eclipse quickly sank, triggering a complicated three-week operation involving divers, environmental consultants and a tow to get her out of  the water. The removal cost the Port $122,000.

Derelict vessels are boats in varying stages of disrepair that can cause harm to safety, the environment and waterways. Often, they are abandoned and have sunk or are at risk of sinking.

“We want to get derelict vessels out of the water before they sink because it becomes a really expensive operation,” Bretz said.

But getting ahead of the curve is difficult because it’s a broken system.

The problem

Inside the Port of Newport office, a copy of a historic black and white photograph hangs on the wall of the Azalea in the 1930s. And just a short walk outside the office the Azalea is still there – 90 years old, abandoned and baking in the afternoon sun.

Abandoned and derelict vessels are a costly issue and pose a problem for Oregon ports and waterways. Many start as low-priced boats purchased by people who don’t have the resources for their upkeep and repair.

Oftentimes, boat owners abandon their vessels outright because it can cost thousands of dollars to dispose of them. They may also sell them cheaply to buyers who may not realize how much work and money goes into maintenance.

“It continues to be sold and the state of the vessel declines,” Bretz said. “It is easier to sell to someone than to get rid of it.”

The problem is further compounded by Oregon’s housing crisis as many of the abandoned vessels end up with people who have nowhere else to go, seeking temporary shelter and further putting the boats in a state of decline.

And there is no real way of getting rid of it the same way you would a car, Bretz said.

“The supply chain doesn’t exist,” Bretz said.

With cars, there is a market for parts and it’s far easier to dispose of a car than a boat. There’s a shortage of places that specialize in disposing of vessels and most of the time they go to a landfill. Even though some of the boats may be decades old, historic preservation isn’t much of an option either because it requires too much money and space to keep these vessels, Bretz said.

“People have a lot of really great ideas, but really there aren’t enough resources,” he said.

In 2023, the Oregon Legislature allocated nearly $19 million to remove and demolish derelict vessels across the state.

But in December, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries suddenly increased the costs of the work to remove derelict vessels. The agency decided that the removal program, which has been underway for more than two years, must now pay prevailing or union wages to the private contractors who do the work – making it more expensive to remove the nuisance vessels.

At the Port of Newport, where there are 16 derelict vessels, the news was frustrating.

(Partial) solutions

Even though the change in December feels like a step backward for removing derelict boats, there are other areas that have made disposal easier.

Some changes in Oregon law have cut back legal red tape to allow for easier disposal. Abandoned derelict vessels are now able to be classified as marine debris, making a more cost effective and quicker route for removal.

Those who abandon their boats can also be cited now, after a recent change in legislation.

“It basically gives us a process to notice people within a reasonable amount of time that you need to get rid of this boat, or the disposal of it’s going to be on you, and you’re going to get cited, potentially for abandoning a vessel in the state waterway,” Bretz said.

Enforcement would likely fall under Lincoln County Sheriff’s office, he said.

But there is a lack of understanding of the Port’s role and responsibility with the vessels that use their space, said executive director Paula Miranda. The Port isn’t there to enforce or keep up the boats like many people complain about. The Port gets about $130,000 a year from taxes and doesn’t have the budget to keep up with vessel removal.  Essentially, the Port’s facilities are a parking lot and it’s up to the boat owner to deal with their property, Miranda said.

Another bright spot is a recent $354,000 federal grant through the Marine Debris Program that the Port received in January to remove all 16 vessels. They will likely be gone by June.

“The problem is we are going to have more of them,” Bretz said.

There needs to be a mechanism in place to stop derelict boats from being abandoned in the first place, Miranda said.

“Unlike a car, getting a driver’s license, you have to follow certain guidelines. But buying a boat – anybody can do that, so there isn’t enough education on that,” Miranda said. “There’s a need for better education and understanding.”

• Shayla Escudero covers Lincoln County government, Newport, education, housing and social services for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]