Get rid of old vessels sitting around for free Feb. 7-11 in Flour Bluff. Vessel turn-in program is in partnership with the exas General Land Office, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Courtesy photo
If there’s an inoperable, unsightly old boat sitting in your yard, or stuck away in a storage unit or on a vacant piece of property, now’s the time to get rid of it for FREE. A five-day vessel turn-in program begins Feb. 7 at the Laguna Madre Wastewater Facility, 201 Jester St. in Flour Bluff. Drop-off times are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through Feb. 11.
The service is open to owners of vessels less than 26 feet long. Longer boats will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The statewide program is being done through a partnership with the Texas General Land Office, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and cities including Corpus Christi. So far, Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda counties have together collected 177 vessels for disposal.
“The vessel turn-in program is proud to provide Corpus Christi-area boat owners a volunteer method to dispose of their rundown vessels in a safe, environmentally conscious manner,” said Land Commissioner George P. Bush in a statement. “We want to spread the word: Never abandon or sink a vessel to dispose of it. Not only does it post an environmental and navigational hazard, it’s also illegal.”
Each of the three partners has a role in the boat disposal.
When you bring in your boat, TPWD officials will verify that it’s qualified for disposal. Owners must sign a Release of Interest and Ownership. Titles must be free of any loan balances, liens or taxes.
The land office will take care of removing all hazardous materials such as fuel, oil and batteries. Owners should make sure the boat is free of debris and waste.
The city will transport vessels to landfills for disposal.
To register online visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vtipcc. For more information, call (361) 825-3300 or (361) 826-3032.
