BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — The Bainbridge Island Police Department (BIPD) is removing abandoned and derelict vessels from local waters to protect public safety, navigation, and the marine environment.
BIPD says unattended boats pose risks of sinking, obstructing busy channels, and leaking toxic fluids. Department personnel work to seize and remove the vessels before they create severe hazards.
Following a vessel’s seizure, the police department prioritizes environmentally responsible disposal methods. Officers transport the recovered boats directly to a certified marine recycling center.
They say that at the recycling facility, workers safely strip all hazardous materials from the vessels. The remaining hulls are then crushed and recycled.