Derelict Vessel Removal Reimbursement Program

Application Window: April 1, 2025 ‐ May 30, 2025

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be a municipality as defined in Alaska Statutes - AS 29.71.800(14) - “municipality” means a political subdivision incorporated under the laws of the state that is a home rule or general law city, a home rule or general law borough, or a unified municipality.
• The vessel involved in the reimbursement request must be a derelict vessel as outlined in Alaska Statutes 30.30.090.
  • A vessel is a derelict vessel if:
    (1) the vessel is sunk or in immediate danger of sinking, is obstructing a waterway, or is endangering public health, safety, property, or the environment;
    (2) the vessel has been anchored, moored, stored, abandoned, or otherwise left in the waters of the state or on state or municipal property contrary to law;
    (3) the vessel's certificate number or marine document number has expired and the owner no longer resides at the address listed in the vessel registration or marine document records of a state agency or the United States Coast Guard;
    (4) the last owner of record disclaims ownership and the current owner's name or address cannot be determined;
    (5) the vessel identification numbers and other means of identification have been obliterated or removed in a manner that nullifies or precludes efforts to locate or identify the owner;
    (6) the vessel registration records of a state agency and the marine document records of the United States Coast Guard contain no record that the vessel ever has been registered or documented, and the owner's name or address cannot be determined; or
    (7) the vessel has been anchored, moored, stored, abandoned, or otherwise left unattended on private property without authorization by the owner or occupant of the property.
• The derelict vessel removal must fall within the allowable timeframe.
  • For requests for reimbursement, the removal must have occurred between April 1st, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
    • Note, if the allotted municipality reimbursement amount is not exhausted after the initial application window, applications will be accepted on a continuous basis with an expanded removal window.
  • For requests for reimbursement guarantees selected by the department, the department will work with the applicant to set a removal date no later than January 1st, 2026.
• Receipts or quotes documenting removal costs must be submitted. Failure to provide these will result in disqualification.
• Must provide any known ownership information and demonstrate that reasonable efforts have been made to identify, locate, and hold accountable the party responsible for the vessel.
• Derelict vessel removals must be waters of the state or state or municipal property; derelict vessel removals from federal or private property are not eligible.

Scored Criteria:

• Environmental Hazard - 10 Points Available: Did the vessel pose an environmental risk (e.g., potential oil spill, hazardous debris, or impacts to fish, wildlife, or a sensitive habitat)?
• Public Safety - 10 Points Available: Did the vessel pose a public safety threat (e.g., human health and safety hazard)?
• Obstruction of Other Uses - 5 Points Available: Did the vessel prevent others productive use by its presence (e.g., blocking mooring area, public recreation, or other use)?
• Vessel Condition - 5 Points Available: Did condition of the vessel further increase the potential environmental impact or public safety threat?

Application Window: April 1, 2025, until the yearly allotted amount of funding is exhausted.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be a state agency as defined in Alaska Statutes - 30.30.017(5) - “state agency” means a department, agency, division, or office in the executive branch of state government.
• The vessel involved in the reimbursement request must be a derelict vessel as outlined in Alaska Statutes 30.30.090.
  • A vessel is a derelict vessel if:
    (1) the vessel is sunk or in immediate danger of sinking, is obstructing a waterway, or is endangering public health, safety, property, or the environment;
    (2) the vessel has been anchored, moored, stored, abandoned, or otherwise left in the waters of the state or on state or municipal property contrary to law;
    (3) the vessel's certificate number or marine document number has expired and the owner no longer resides at the address listed in the vessel registration or marine document records of a state agency or the United States Coast Guard;
    (4) the last owner of record disclaims ownership and the current owner's name or address cannot be determined;
    (5) the vessel identification numbers and other means of identification have been obliterated or removed in a manner that nullifies or precludes efforts to locate or identify the owner;
    (6) the vessel registration records of a state agency and the marine document records of the United States Coast Guard contain no record that the vessel ever has been registered or documented, and the owner's name or address cannot be determined; or
    (7) the vessel has been anchored, moored, stored, abandoned, or otherwise left unattended on private property without authorization by the owner or occupant of the property.
• The derelict vessel removal may not have occurred before April 1st, 2024.
• Receipts or quotes documenting removal costs must be submitted. Failure to provide these will result in disqualification.
• Must provide any known ownership information and demonstrate that reasonable efforts have been made to identify, locate, and hold accountable the party responsible for the vessel.
• Derelict vessel removals must be waters of the state or state or municipal property; derelict vessel removals from federal or private property are not eligible.

Scored Criteria:

• Environmental Hazard - 10 Points Available: Did the vessel pose an environmental risk (e.g., potential oil spill, hazardous debris, or impacts to fish, wildlife, or a sensitive habitat)?
• Public Safety - 10 Points Available: Did the vessel pose a public safety threat (e.g., human health and safety hazard)?
• Obstruction of Other Uses - 5 Points Available: Did the vessel prevent others productive use by its presence (e.g., blocking mooring area, public recreation, or other use)?
• Vessel Condition - 5 Points Available: Did condition of the vessel further increase the potential environmental impact or public safety threat?
• Spill Response - 5 Points Available: Was the vessel removal associated with a state or federally funded spill response?