As Boating Season Peaks, Simonsen Calls for Action on Growing Crisis of Abandoned Vessels

As thousands of boats take to New Jersey's waterways this summer, hundreds of others remain exactly where they were left. Abandoned, deteriorating, and forgotten, these vessels have become a growing hazard in coastal communities across the state.

From back bays and tidal marshes to rivers and navigational channels, abandoned boats threaten public safety, damage fragile ecosystems, and burden municipalities with costly removals. For many shore towns, the problem has grown beyond an occasional nuisance and into a crisis that demands a statewide solution.

"New Jersey's waterways are one of our greatest assets, especially here in South Jersey," said Assemblyman Erik Simonsen. "Every summer, families, fishermen, and visitors head out on the water expecting a safe and enjoyable experience. They shouldn't have to navigate around abandoned boats that have been left to rot for years. This is a growing problem, and it's time for the State to step up and help our communities address it."

To tackle the issue, Simonsen has introduced legislation establishing a statewide strategy to remove abandoned and derelict vessels while providing municipalities with the resources they need to do the job. The legislation creates a dedicated $25 million Abandoned Vessels Fund to reimburse municipalities for removal costs and establishes a statewide working group of federal, state, local, and industry leaders to coordinate cleanup efforts and recommend long term solutions.

Under current law, municipalities often bear the financial responsibility for removing abandoned vessels, even though many lack the resources to do so. As these boats sit in the water, they can obstruct navigation, leak fuel and other hazardous materials, damage marine habitats, and become increasingly expensive to remove.

"Every day these boats remain in our waterways, they become a bigger environmental risk and a greater financial burden on local taxpayers," Simonsen said. "Our coastal communities should not have to choose between protecting their waterways and protecting their budgets. This legislation ensures the State becomes a true partner in preserving New Jersey's coast."

If enacted, the legislation would establish the New Jersey Abandoned and Derelict Boat Removal Working Group and create a reimbursement program through the Department of the Treasury to help municipalities recover the costs of removing abandoned vessels.