An image of an abandoned and derelict vessel

SPRINGFIELD, Va., September 30, 2026 – The New Jersey State Police is BoatUS Foundation’s newest partner in tracking and removing abandoned and derelict vessels (ADV) through the Foundation’s innovative ADV database. The national database provides a centralized resource for documenting ADVs, helping officials and agencies track vessels that may pose environmental, navigational, and public safety concerns.

 In New Jersey, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Marine Services Bureau uses the database as an investigative tool to document and track ADVs. Information entered into the database can help investigators identify vessels, establish a record of reported incidents, and support enforcement and removal efforts when appropriate.

ADVs pose significant environmental and safety risks. They can damage sensitive aquatic habitats, leak fuel and other pollutants, obstruct navigation channels, and create hazards for other boaters. Removal costs can average $24,000 or more, depending on a vessel’s size, location, and condition. A centralized tracking system provides a way to document these vessels and help identify those requiring further investigation or removal.

The database is the first national tool of its kind for tracking abandoned and derelict vessels. Boaters and residents can upload an optional photo, log the date and time of a sighting, answer a short set of safety and vessel-related questions, and drop a pin on an interactive map to mark a vessel's exact location. Every report, whether submitted by the public or by an agency like NJSP, feeds into a single national dataset, giving communities, agencies, and advocates a shared picture of the ADV problem nationwide.

New Jersey's adoption of the database builds on the Foundation's broader push to remove hundreds of ADVs from coastal waterways nationwide, supported by a 2023 award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. That effort is already funding targeted removals in eight states and territories. The project will also bring the broader movement together at the Turning the Tide Summit, December 6-9, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where industry leaders, environmental stakeholders and waste management experts will tackle sustainable ADV disposal solutions.

To report an abandoned or derelict vessel, visit boatus.org/database. If you're interested in attending the Turning the Tide Summit, register here.

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ABOUT THE BOATUS FOUNDATION:
BoatUS Foundation is supporting projects that were selected through its nationally competitive grant program for the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels throughout coastal and marine areas of the United States, including the Great Lakes. In an effort to help educate and prevent future ADVs, the Foundation also created a national ADV database to track the scope of the challenge and measure success, document ADV prevention and removal activities to share with the public, and support a national dialogue and education efforts on boating-related debris disposal. This project is supported by a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE MARINE SERVICES BUREAU:

The New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau patrols state waterways, enforces boating laws, manages safety certification, and responds to on-the-water emergencies. Headquartered in West Trenton, New Jersey, the bureau oversees recreational boating safety and coordinates training across New Jersey's coastal and inland waters.