Abandoned boats washed up at Howarth Park slated for removal

EVERETT — Two beached boats at Howarth Park in Everett have overstayed their welcome, authorities say.

The Everett Police Department is working with state agencies and the county’s Marine Resources Committee to remove the pair that washed up earlier this month.

Earlier this week, state Department of Ecology crews checked both boats for oil or fuel spills but found none, spokesperson Larry Altose said.

Now, Everett Police Lt. Jeff Hendrickson is leading the charge for their removal. There’s no timeline for when that could occur or how much it may cost, a department spokesperson said.

Once the city places a legal notice on the boats, the owners will have 30 days to move them. If they don’t, a contractor will be hired to haul them away.

The state Department of Natural Resources’ Derelict Vessels Removal Program is helping guide the city through that process and will reimburse the department for up to 90% of the removal costs, program manager Troy Wood said.

Washed-up boats are becoming an annual site at Howarth Park.

Last year, the 45-feet-long JoJo showed up on the beach in mid-August.

After local and state authorities got involved, its owner towed the boat elsewhere.

In total, the state is monitoring about 30 derelict vessels in Snohomish County — most near the Snohomish River and Steamboat Slough. In September 2019, the state paid $400,000 to remove the Midas, a 100-foot World War II-era fishing boat, from the Snohomish River.

Left unattended, derelict boats can leak oil or other fluids, or shed debris, which pollute marine habitat and contaminate wildlife.

The county’s Surface Water Management division has plans to remove four boats this fall.

People can report derelict boats by submitting a report at www.mycoast.org or on the MyCoast app.

Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.