Coast Guard

Abandoned Vessels Are Polluting the Waterways Gao ID: T-RCED-92-54 June 10, 1992

Abandoned vessels littering the nation's waterways are often sources of pollutants like fuel oil or dump sites for hazardous material. Spills from these vessels have already harmed the environment, and further releases are a constant threat. Because about half of the owners of these abandoned ships are either unknown or bankrupt, the federal government will likely have to pick up the tab for cleaning up spills or removing the vessels. GAO notes that no laws are on the books making abandonment illegal or establishing penalties to deter it. In addition, no law exists requiring barge owners to register their vessels with the Coast Guard.



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