AUSTIN — The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is partnering with Galveston County and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to offer community members the opportunity to remove inoperable and derelict vessels through the “Vessel Turn-In Program.”

Designed to provide owners with a voluntary method of disposal, interested boat owners are encouraged to participate if the vessel is less than 26 feet long, with longer boats being accepted on a case by case basis. The vessel may be delivered to the drop off point upon approved for disposal. To pre-qualify call 409-766-4509 or 409-766-4516.

"The Vessel Turn-In Program is proud to provide the Galveston community with the opportunity to dispose of their unwanted vessels in a safe, environmentally-conscious manner," said Commissioner George P. Bush. "At the Texas General Land Office, we prioritize helping Texans and ensuring our state's environment is preserved for generations to come. Our Vessel Turn-In Program serves to bring the necessary resources to our local coastal communities while protecting our coast from possible threat."

Vessel Turn-In Program Hours:
Event: November 14 -18th 2020
Registration must be completed by: November 6th, 2020
Time will be provided upon registration completion

Galveston County Residents’ Drop-off location:
Location will be provided upon registration completion

To pre-register, call:
409-766-4509 or 409-766-4516

For Questions:
GLO – (281) 470-6597

 TPWD will verify the vessel (boat) qualifies for disposal. Verification of ownership and a Release of Interest and Ownership must be completed and provided to the VTIP agency. The title must be free of any loan balances, liens, and/or taxes. The GLO will sponsor the removal of all hazardous materials (fuel, oil, and batteries), while Galveston County will transport vessel to landfill for disposal. 

Thus far, the GLO has coordinated 19 events in Galveston, Brazoria, Calhoun, Aransas and Matagorda counties as well as the cities of Corpus Christi and Galveston. VTIP partnerships have resulted in 795 boats and 73 trailers surrendered for salvage and 1,236 gallons of fuel safely disposed, including five 55-gallon drums of hydrocarbon waste. Representing the removal of more than 13,086 linear vessel feet, VTIP demonstrates a projected cost savings of $2.95 million for state and local governments.

Working with petroleum and commercial fishing industries, U.S. Coast Guard and the general public, Oil Spill Prevention and Response staff support educational opportunities, daily water and shore patrols and firehouse-ready response teams to prevent and immediately address environmental problems - because even the smallest spill can endanger Texas' precious natural resources. Abandoned vessels can leak fluids into coastal waters that can be harmful for the wetland environment, wildlife and humans.

Background - Texas GLO's Oil Spill Prevention and Response

The oldest state agency in Texas, the GLO was formed to determine who owned what and where after the Texians and Tejanos won independence. Today the General Land Office manages state lands, operates the Alamo, helps Texans recovering from natural disasters, helps fund Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund, provides benefits to Texas Veterans, and manages the vast Texas coast. With hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil and petroleum products passing through ports, bays and beaches along the Texas Gulf annually, the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response team is on call 24/7, ensuring oil stays out of Texas coastal waters.