Abandoned boats washed up at Howarth Park slated for removal

EVERETT – Two boats stranded in Howarth Park in Everett have exceeded their salute, authorities say.

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

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

Now Everett Police Lt. Jeff Hendrickson on charges for their removal. There’s no timeline of when this could happen or how much it could cost, a department spokesman said.

Once the city has given the boats legal notice, owners have 30 days to move them. If this is not the case, a contractor will be hired to pick them up.

The Department of Natural Resources’ abandoned ship removal program is helping the city with this process and will reimburse the department for up to 90% of removal costs, said program manager Troy Wood.

Washed boats become a place in Howarth Park every year.

Last year the 45 meter long JoJo appeared on the beach in mid-August.

After local and state authorities were contacted, its owner towed the boat elsewhere.

In total, the state monitors about 30 abandoned ships in Snohomish County – most of them near the Snohomish River and Steamboat Slough. In September 2019, the state paid $ 400,000 to remove the Midas, a 30-meter-long WWII-era fishing boat, from the Snohomish River.

Left unattended, dilapidated boats can spill oil or other liquids, or discard debris, which pollutes marine habitat and contaminates wildlife.

The county’s surface water management department plans to remove four boats this fall.

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

Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; [email protected]. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.