AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. encourages Brazoria County residents to participate in the Brazoria County Vessel Turn-In Program that is occurring February 5-8, 2024 from 8 am to 5 pm. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is partnering with Brazoria County, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and the Brazoria County Fire Fighters Association (BCFFA) to offer county residents a free event to remove inoperable and derelict vessels.

During the multi-day turn-in event, residents may bring their derelict or inoperable boats to the designated drop-off locations to be verified by the GLO and TPWD for eligibility. The BCFFA will sponsor the removal of all fuel, oil, and batteries while Brazoria County will transport vessels for disposal. To be eligible:

• Vessels must be clear of all waste, debris, and trash
• Verification of ownership of vessels along with a Release of Interest and Ownership must be provided to the VTIP agency
• The title of each vessel must be free of any loan balances, liens, and/or taxes 
• Owners must transport their own vessels to the turn in site of their choice
• Vessels exceeding the maximum length of 26-feet may be eligible for disposal on a case by case basis. 

For further information, or if you have a vessel exceeding the maximum length of 26-feet, contact the GLO between the hours of 8-5 Monday through Friday at
(281) 470-6597.

Vessel Turn-In Program Dates and Hours:
February 5-8, 2024
8 am to 5 pm

Drop-off Locations:
Brazoria County Precinct 1
Commissioner Dude Payne
1432 Highland Park
Clute, Texas 77531
(979) 265-3953 

Brazoria County Precinct 4
Commissioner David Linder
121 North 10th Street
West Columbia, Texas 77486
(979) 345-1130

Removing abandoned vessels from coastal waters comes at a considerable expense—around $200-300 per foot. The GLO and its partners encourage communities to participate in VTIPs to avoid these steep costs and to keep their boats from becoming environmental or safety hazards.

Since it began in 2015, VTIP has hosted 36 events in various coastal communities— in total, 1,441 derelict and inoperable boats measuring 23,345 linear feet have been removed from coastal areas through these essential programs.