Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-83

§4711 Abandonment of Vessels Prohibited

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part B— Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter 47— ABANDONMENT OF VESSELS › Subchapter II— NON-BARGE VESSELS › § 4711

Last updated Apr 18, 2026|Official source

Summary

Owners or operators of covered vessels must not leave their boats abandoned on U.S. navigable waters. If a boat looks abandoned, the Coast Guard will try to find the owner using registration or hull numbers and other info. The Coast Guard will tell the owner there could be a fine and that the boat may be removed at the owner’s expense if it stays. If the owner is known, notice is sent by certified mail or similar. If unknown, notice appears in a local paper and on the Coast Guard website. The Coast Guard will wait at least 45 days after that notice before deciding the boat is abandoned. If the Coast Guard finds the boat abandoned, it may fine the owner up to $500 and collect the penalty from the vessel. No fine will be charged if the abandonment happened because of major extenuating reasons, like long‑term medical incapacity. The Coast Guard cannot call a boat abandoned if it is in a federal or state approved mooring area, on private property with the owner’s permission, if the owner tells the Coast Guard where it is and proves it may stay there, or if calling it abandoned would not be in the public interest.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §4711

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An owner or operator of a covered vessel may not abandon such vessel on the navigable waters of the United States.

(b)(1)(A)With respect to a covered vessel that appears to be abandoned, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall—

(i)attempt to identify the owner using the vessel registration number, hull identification number, or any other information that can be reasonably inferred or gathered; and

(ii)notify such owner—

(I)of the penalty described in subsection (c); and

(II)that the vessel will be removed at the expense of the owner if the Commandant determines that the vessel is abandoned and the owner does not remove or account for the vessel.

(B)The Commandant shall provide the notice required under subparagraph (A)—

(i)if the owner can be identified, via certified mail or other appropriate forms determined by the Commandant; or

(ii)if the owner cannot be identified, via an announcement in a local publication and on a website maintained by the Coast Guard.

(2)The Commandant shall make a determination not earlier than 45 days after the date on which the Commandant provides the notification required under paragraph (1) of whether a covered vessel described in such paragraph is abandoned.

(c)(1)The Commandant may assess a civil penalty of not more than $500 against an owner or operator of a covered vessel determined to be abandoned under subsection (b) for a violation of subsection (a).

(2)The owner or operator of a covered vessel shall also be liable in rem for a penalty imposed under paragraph (1).

(3)The Commandant shall not assess a penalty if the Commandant determines the vessel was abandoned due to major extenuating circumstances of the owner or operator of the vessel, including long term medical incapacitation of the owner or operator.

(d)The Commandant may not determine that a covered vessel is abandoned under this section if—

(1)such vessel is located at a federally approved or State approved mooring area;

(2)such vessel is located on private property with the permission of the owner of such property;

(3)the owner or operator of such vessel provides a notification to the Commandant that—

(A)indicates the location of the vessel;

(B)indicates that the vessel is not abandoned; and

(C)contains documentation proving that the vessel is allowed to be in such location; or

(4)the Commandant determines that such an abandonment determination would not be in the public interest.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 4711

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 18, 2026

Release point: 119-83