Abandoned Vessel State Laws w Letter

STATE LAWS ADDRESSING ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS

COMPILED BY NATIONAL SEA GRANT LAW CENTER

AUGUST 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ALABAMA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..........2

ALASKA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.5

CALIFORNIA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.10

CONNECTICUT¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..14

DELAWARE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...17

FLORIDA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...20

GEORGIA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..25

HAWAII¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­33

ILLINOIS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...40

INDIANA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...44

LOUISIANA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...48

MAINE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.52

MARYLAND¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.55

MASSACHUSETTS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.61

MICHIGAN¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­66

MINNESOTA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.71

MISSISSIPPI¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..74

NEW HAMPSHIRE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.79

NEW JERSEY¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.84

NEW YORK¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...89

NORTH CAROLINA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­92

OHIO¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.95

OREGON¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.104

PENNSYLVANIA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..111

RHODE ISLAND¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­...116

SOUTH CAROLINA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..120

TEXAS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­123

VIRGINIA¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­129

WASHINGTON¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.134

WISCONSIN¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.142

ALABAMA

Definition of a Vessel

Vessel: Every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane, capable of being used as a means of

transportation on the water, but the term does not include vessels 12 feet in length or less when used

solely on farm ponds of less than 50 acres in size. (ALA. CODE ¡ì 33-5-3(1)).

Definition of a Derelict/Abandoned Vessel

Alabama does not have a explicit definition of derelict or abandoned vessel.

Formal State Program For Abandoned Vessels

Alabama does not have a formal state program addressing abandoned vessels.

In March 1998, House Bill 917 was introduced in the Alabama Legislature to establish an abandoned

vessel program, but it did not pass. According to the bill¡¯s synopsis it would have provided for:

The storage and disposition of an abandoned vessel and the civil procedure rights of the owner and

the finder of the vessel including personal watercraft;

Notification and publication of the known data relating to the vessel to ascertain the identity of the

owner and rights of parties with legal interest in the vessel;

Responsibilities and powers of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center and the

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources;

The creation of and satisfaction of liens in the same manner as for abandoned motor vehicles; and

the foreclosure or public sale of abandoned vessels and the disposition of excess proceeds in the

same manner as for abandoned motor vehicles.

The bill also would have provided for a peace officer or law enforcement agency to remove an

unattended vessel and the circumstances and duties thereunder and the issuance of a certificate of

title by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The text of HB 917 is available at

.

Laws/Guidelines on How a Boat is Designated as Abandoned/Derelict

Alabama law requires vessel owners to notify the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

within 15 days if the vessel is destroyed or abandoned. (Id. ¡ì 33-5-16(a)).

Differences Between Commercial and Recreational Vessel Treatment

None.

Vessel Size Requirements or Limits

None.

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Removal Requirements

Although Alabama does not have an abandoned vessel law, the state¡¯s salvage laws provide that any

person may take up and secure ¡°all property adrift.¡± (Id. ¡ì 35-13-1).

Within 2 days of securing the property, the person must present the property to a district court for

an official appraisement and description of the property. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-2).

If the appraised value of the property is over $30, the taker must, within 10 days of the appraisal,

give notice once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published nearest to the place

where the property was taken up. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-3(a)).

o The notice must state the name of the taker; the time and place; a description of the

property, with its marks, and the name of the owner, if known; its appraised value; and the

location where the property is secured or deposited.

If the property is worth less than $30.00, notice must be given within 5 days at the next steamboat

landing, if the property was taken up on a navigable stream; otherwise, at the nearest public place.

(Id. ¡ì 35-15-3(b)).

The owner of the property may, upon notifying the taker or person in possession and proving

ownership to the satisfaction of the court, obtain an order from the court to restore such property on the

payment of the legal costs and other charges. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-4).

The owner may prove his property, if appraised at less than $30.00, within 3 months. If appraised

between $30.00 and $100.00, the owner has 6 months. If the property is worth more than $100.00,

the owner has a year after the appraisement to prove his ownership. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-7).

o A failure to prove ownership vests ownership rights in the taker.

The taker of the property is entitled to compensation for his efforts as follows:

For property worth less than $30.00, 25% of the appraised value;

For property worth between $30.00 and $100.00, 20%;

For property worth between $100.00 and $500.00, 15%;

For property worth between $500.00 and $1,000.00, 10%; and

For property worth more than $1,000.00, 5%. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-5(a)).

The taker is also entitled to the court fees paid by him; the expenses of the advertisement, if

published in a newspaper, and reasonable compensation for the keeping, if necessary to preserve

the property from loss or injury. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-5(b)).

If the taker or person in possession of the property fails to return it to the owner on the order of the

district court and payment of all costs and expenses, the owner may recover the property from the taker

or person in possession. (Id. ¡ì 35-13-8).

The person failing to abide by a court order, forfeits double the appraised value of the property to

the owner bringing the recovery action.

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