Abandoned Boats

Abandoned Boats

THESE VESSELS ARE NOT FOR SALE OR CLAIM - This process is open only to the Party with Standing, the vessel owner, and any bona fide lienholder or holder of a security interest.  The vessels listed below are not available to the general public for sale or for claim.  

The Abandoned Boat Process

Under Section 15-140c of the CGS, an aggrieved person, or “Party with Standing”, submits a Notice of Abandoned Vessel along with a fee to the DEEP.  The DEEP will make all the necessary checks and contacts required under the law.  In general, if the vessel is not removed from the property of the Party with Standing within 45 days, the law will award ownership of the vessel to that person.  The Party with Standing is then responsible for the disposition of the vessel. - NO MORE THAN THREE VESSELS AT ONE TIME:  Any person, business or other organization may have no more than three abandoned vessels in process at any given time, and users are asked to allow all three to finish processing before submitting additional abandoned vessels.  The Department will return to the applicant any application that exceeds the three vessel limit.   - VESSELS ARE NOT FOR SALE:  This process is open only to the Party with Standing, the vessel owner, and any bona fide lienholder or holder of a security interest.  The vessels listed below are not available for sale.

When is a vessel considered abandoned?

In Connecticut, a vessel is considered abandoned if it is: • Left on someone’s property for more than 24-hours without the property owner’s permission; • Found free floating and unattended on the waters of the state for more than 24-hours (you should note the position of the vessel and notify DEEP Emergency Dispatch at 860-424-3333 before taking the vessel into custody); • Improperly registered and left on the waters of the state for more than 24-hours (this provision is intended for police or government use); • Left at a mooring for more than sixty days since payment for the mooring became overdue; (this provision is intended for municipal or harbormaster use) • Left at a commercial facility for more than one year since payment for storage became overdue; or,
• Found during a declared public emergency in a public right-of-way.

Who has the right or "standing" to submit a Notice of Abandoned Vessel?

The law designates the following as having standing:

• The owner of the property where the vessel was abandoned OR any person that the landowner designates to complete the abandoned vessel process;
• Any harbormaster, police department, municipality or agent of the state that agrees to process the abandoned vessel;
• Any emergency responder who is responding to a declared emergency; or,
• Any licensed motor vehicle dealer or marine salvager who is engaged by one of these persons to tow or transport an abandoned vessel.

How do I submit a Notice of Abandoned Vessel?

To submit a Notice of Abandoned Vessel you must:

1. Have standing as designated by statute and described above,
2. Fill out a Notice of Abandoned Vessel form and have it notarized, and
3. Submit the notarized form and any required attachments including photographs to the DEEP with a $20 non-refundable fee.
 
If the abandoned vessel is not removed from the property where it was abandoned within approximately 45 days after information about the vessel’s abandonment is posted on the DEEP website, the Party with Standing will be awarded ownership of the vessel. The Party with Standing may then keep, sell, or otherwise dispose of the vessel.
 
All vessels that are reported as abandoned will be listed in the abandoned vessel table.  The table will identify, among other things, the last date the vessel may be claimed by the owner or by someone with a lien on the vessel or a security interest in the vessel.  If one of these persons commits to removing the vessel but cannot do so by the “Last Date to Claim Vessel”, that person has the right to ask for the date to be extended. In addition, the Commissioner may extend the date if more time to process a case is necessary. If this happens, an explanation as to why an extension was granted will be added to the table on the DEEP website.

Vessel Liens and Security Interests

Please note that there are safeguards built into the processing of abandoned vessels to protect the interests of lien-holders or holders of security interests.  These safeguards require that various contacts be attempted or made if the abandoned vessel is subject to a lien or security interest.  Posting of an abandoned vessel on the DEEP website may be delayed while these contacts are attempted.  

- VESSEL OWNERSHIP TRANSFERS ARE FINAL: Persons who are considering submitting a Notice of Abandoned Vessel are advised to be prepared to receive ownership of the abandoned vessel and to deal with any associated complications arising from acquiring ownership.
 
- BOAT TRAILERS ARE NOT PART OF THIS PROCESS:  This process does not deal in any way with abandoned vessel trailers.  For information about abandoned trailers please contact the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Special Rules for Vessels That Are or Were USCG-Documented:

“Documented” vessels are vessels that are or were numbered (registered) with the Coast Guard. They are larger vessels that will likely have a name and hailing port painted on the back of the vessel, and are unlikely to have a “CT” registration number on the front but they may still display a Connecticut registration decal.  There are special rules for dealing with an abandoned vessel that is or was documented.  If you are unsure if the vessel you are dealing with is or was documented, feel free to call us at (860) 447-4354.

In order to process a Notice of Abandoned Vessel for a vessel that was previously documented with the United States Coast Guard, it will be necessary for you to obtain an Abstract of the Title from the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). The Abstract of the Title will cost you $25 and will take a week or two to receive. Please obtain the Abstract of Title prior to submitting your Notice of Abandoned Vessel, then contact us at (860) 447-4354.
 
An Abstract of Title can be ordered through the NVDC at www.uscg.mil/nvdc/
The NVDC can be reached by telephone at 1-800-799-8362.  - CURRENTLY DOCUMENTED VESSELS: This law cannot be used for abandoned vessels that are currently documented with the United States Coast Guard, except that the owners of these vessels can still be fined for abandoning the vessel. It is unnecessary to file a Notice of Abandoned Vessel in this case. Contact your locate police. The fine for abandoning a vessel is $440.00. 

- FEDERAL TAX LIENS: From time to time an abandoned vessel is found to be subject to a federal tax lien.  The DEEP Boating Division has no authority to discharge a vessel from a federal tax lien through the abandoned vessel process.  The DEEP Boating Division will notify a party with standing if an abandoned vessel is found to be subject to a federal tax lien.  Parties with standing seeking to take ownership of an abandoned vessel that is subject to a federal tax lien will be responsible for working with the IRS upon transfer of the vessel to formally discharge the vessel from the lien.   Parties with standing will be required to sign an acknowledgement of the lien prior to transfer.   A party with standing may choose to withdraw a vessel from the abandoned boat process at any time prior to being issued a Notice of Assumed Ownership.


Notice of Abandoned Vessel

Abandoned Vessel Law - Public Act 14-57 

Section 15-140c of CGS

Vessel Liens:
Section 49-55s of CGS
UCC Filing Form
UCC Filing Online

Vessels Reported Abandoned *This table may not be visible on some mobile devices.

Contact DEEP regarding a listed vessel by email or phone 860-434-8638.