Voluntary Vessel Turn-in Event

The Whatcom MRC, Port of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE), and the Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC) hosted a free Vessel Turn-In recycling event in summer 2025. 

This vessel turn-in event was advertised to the local community as a free opportunity for individuals to voluntarily turn in their vessels for proper disposal and recycling. Vessels accepted to this event are brought to the Port of Bellingham at the Landings at Colony Wharf where hazardous materials are safely removed, vessels are deconstructed, and the vast majority of materials are sorted for recycling.

This event is part of the Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) managed by the WDNR to prevent derelict or abandoned boats and protect marine habitats from pollution.  A total of 29 vessels applied to be a part of this Whatcom vessel turn-in event. Previous vessel turn-in events held collaboratively by WDNR, NW Straits Commission, and partners in 2023 and 2024 resulted in a total of 73 vessels being voluntarily turned-in and recycled with substantial cost efficiencies to the VTIP program by bringing multiple boats to one place, resulting in the per vessel disposal and recycling costing approximately $5,000 per vessel.

Click here to check out a timelapse video of a deconstruction!

This vessel turn-in event is funded in part by WDNR through the VTIP program, NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, and the NWSC through congressionally directed spending funds administered through NOAA.  Additional in-kind support has been provided by the Washington DOE Spills Program, Port of Bellingham, Whatcom MRC, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition.