Vessel Turn-In Program

Do you have an unwanted vessel?

Vessel Turn-In Program Flyer

If you have a recreational boat that you no longer want, the free, easy and safe Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) may be the solution. The VTIP is an option to help boat owners properly dispose of unwanted vessels in an effort to reduce the number of aging and abandoned boats in California. Please note, commercial vessels are not covered under this program.

For boat owners, getting rid of a boat that has little or no monetary value is not easy. Often times, the cost of disposal is more than what the boat is worth. This economic imbalance causes some owners to sell their boats for next to nothing, give them away, or in the worst case, abandon them.

Contact the Harbor Department at 949-270-8159 for more information and to record your interest in the Vessel Turn-In Program. If your vessel is eligible and approved for the VTIP by the Harbor Department, disposal is free. In order to turn in the vessel, you must be the registered owner of the vessel and the title must be free and clear of any loan balances, liens, and/or taxes.

The VTIP is administered by California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) and the City of Newport Beach. 

Never abandon or sink a vessel to dispose of it. Not only does it create public, navigational, environmental and safety hazards on our state’s waterways, but it is illegal with fines of $1,000 to $3,000, plus the costs of removal and disposal. Proper vessel disposal is a vital part of clean and responsible boating, and if it's your boat, it's your responsibility.