The issue of abandoned and derelict vessels may soon get a closer look in the North Carolina General Assembly. Earlier this week, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission provided recommendations to the state legislature for the creation of a statewide response to the issue.

Last November, the legislature tasked NCWRC with studying the issue of ADVs in a Senate bill related to Hurricane Florence relief. The agency was instructed to provide recommendations for legislation and funding levels for a program that would require owners of ADVs to take responsibility for their vessels, and allow the state to remove those vessels if an owner cannot be found.

Among the highlights of the NCWRC’s recommendations are:

• Establishing an ADV Task Force coordinated by the NCWRC. This task force would be responsible for developing strategies to identify vessel owners, manage abandoned and derelict vessels and ultimately remove ADVs from the water. The task force would also consider the probable recurring costs of such a program and potential sources of funding.
• Establish clear authorities for identifying, tracking, removing and disposing of ADVs, both in regular circumstances and after emergencies such as hurricanes.
• Develop requirements for cooperation between NCWRC and other state agencies, as well as federal and local governments.
• Establish options for private marina owners to dispose of abandoned vessels.
• Require changes to vessel registration rules to help track ownership more closely.

In terms of funding, the report recommends a steady source of state funding, with opportunities to leverage federal funding sources. Other possibilities include establishing a grant program to help local governments implement their own ordinances and recovering public funds spend on vessel removal from owners.

In addition, the recommendations lay out ideas for preventing abandoned vessels in the first place, including a potential vessel turn-in program where owners could turn over unwanted boats to the state for disposal at no cost.

On the Washington waterfront, abandoned vessels have been an issue for a number of years, according to Washington Dockmaster Rick Brass. From dragging anchor and threatening private and public property to sinking and becoming eyesores, vessels left to the mercy of the Pamlico can present many problems.

While Brass says he might not agree with all of the recommendations in the study, he calls it “a step in the right direction” for lawmakers to take a fresh look at the issue.

“I might quibble with a couple of minor points in the recommendations, but I heartily endorse the fact that they’re actually doing something,” Brass sai