The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says abandoned and surrendered vessels have been a longstanding concern in Marina del Rey. Approximately 40 vessels are currently secured in the Department’s designated waterborne impound area.

Some are associated with unhoused individuals who live aboard aging boats or move between temporary mooring locations. The Department said it does not blame these individuals and recognizes the broader circumstances contributing to long-term vessel abandonment. A formal assessment would be needed to determine the number of unhoused boaters currently in the harbor.

Removal efforts are funded primarily through the annual Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Grant. However, restrictions in the current Master Agreement limit the number of eligible haul-out vendors and reduce disposal capacity.

The Department is working with partner agencies to update the agreement, expand vendor eligibility and explore alternative disposal methods. It is also developing a sustainable, multiyear strategy to improve vessel-abatement operations while protecting public safety and the environment.