An image of a derelict vessel being crushed after being removed from the waterway

SNEADS FERRY, N.C. – June 19, 2026 – The week of June 1st, the BoatUS Foundation and North Carolina Coastal Federation removed four abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) from the waterways of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina. 

Abandoned and derelict vessels are a significant source of marine pollution and a safety hazard for commercial and recreational boaters. This removal effort will help restore safe navigation, reduce pollution in working harbors, and support fishing communities that have limited resources to address these long-standing challenges on their own. 

“Removing abandoned and derelict vessels in Sneads Ferry is about more than clearing marine debris, it’s about protecting a working waterfront that local families rely on every day. This community is a hub for commercial fishing, and these deteriorating boats pose real hazards in the harbors. By removing them, we’re helping restore safer waterways and supporting the livelihoods that depend on them,” said Alanna Keating, Director of Outreach at BoatUS Foundation.

During the removal effort, local crews worked to raise and extract multiple vessels, including a sunken cabin cruiser and a vessel resting on the harbor bottom, using specialized marine removal equipment. The operation is supported by a grant BoatUS Foundation provided to North Carolina Coastal Federation to remove more than a dozen vessels from North Carolina waters. The work is part of a larger national initiative to remove hundreds of ADVs from coastal waterways, supported by a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

To learn more about the BoatUS Foundation’s work addressing abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs), visit: https://boatus.org/abandoned-derelict-vessels/ 

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ABOUT THE BOATUS FOUNDATION:

BoatUS Foundation is supporting projects that were selected through their 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, U.S. territories, and Freely Associated States. 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 NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION:   

Whether you live and work on the coast, visit on occasion, or just dream of walking along our beautiful beaches, the well-being of your world depends on healthy oceans and coastal ecosystems. The North Carolina Coastal Federation works to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats throughout the North Carolina coast by collaborating with and engaging people from all walks of life who are committed to preserving the coast for current and future generations.