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01/23/2012: "Public Meeting on Derelict Vessels"

(UPDATED 01-23-12 11:00 AM) A new effort to address derelict vessels, and enforcement regulations, has been postponed because of DNR attendance problems. It was to be introduced at a public meeting on January 25, 1 pm to 3 pm, at the Grange building in Friday Harbor. (Related Story)

The Vessel Moorage Compliance Project (VMCP) will be discussed. The goal is to begin more attentive enforcement of laws governing long-term mooring of vessels in public waters, and the possible removal effort for unpermitted buoys.


According to the sponsors of the meeting, Senator Kevin Ranker is “on-board with this, he may write enhancing legislation, and DNR and the sheriff are cautiously on-board.”

Additional supporters are said to be the Friends of The San Juans, the Port of Friday Harbor, the local Power Squadron, and the county Marine Resources Committee (MRC), and while MRC director Jeff Hanson has been involved in these initial discussions, and reportedly said that "they were supporters of the concept of increased enforcement of some frequently disregarded marine regulations," but at this point no decisions have been made by any player, Sheriff or otherwise, other than agreement that better control of vessel moorage regulations would be helpful.