In a nationwide effort to remove abandoned and neglected boats from our nation’s waterways, the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) Foundation is seeking qualified, diverse, and experienced organizations to submit projects for funding. The massive cleanup effort to remove abandoned and derelict vessels (ADV) in U.S. coastal waterways and the Great Lakes is funded by a four-year, $10 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent between June 10 and August 12.

Abandoned and neglected boats litter ports, waterways, and estuaries all over the country and can cause major problems. These boats can crush or smother sensitive plants and corals, sink or move during coastal storms, threaten safe navigation, and contribute to economic losses. Removing ADVs is a costly effort, often averaging more than $24,000 to remove a single boat. For many communities, there may be no local funding available for the removal of vessels, and navigating complicated funding programs can be challenging for communities with limited time or resources.