A boat that was ripped apart by an excavator Wednesday morning at the Port of Bellingham is one of 29 the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC) collected as part of the Vessel Turn-in Program .

Boat owners statewide without the financial resources to properly dispose of unused boats can apply for the program. The state disposes of the boats properly and they are recycled free of charge.

Boats that are abandoned without proper disposal can pose environmental and safety threats, according to DNR . The gas or diesel in the boats can cause water contamination, and drifting boat pieces cause navigational risks for others in the water.

Disposing of the boats through the Vessel Turn-in Program costs the DNR $5,000 per boat. Acc

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