Seeking Volunteers for Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Review Panel

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is on a mission to clean up our nation’s waterways and the Great Lakes by removing abandoned and derelict vessels, and they need your help! The Foundation is seeking volunteers to serve as peer reviewers for Abandoned and Derelict Vessel (ADV) removal grants between December 2024 and July 2025.

Thanks to a generous four-year, $10 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program, the Foundation is able to fund this important initiative with the goal of improving safety along coastal areas and removing unsightly vessels from our waters. Volunteers with backgrounds in marine debris management, the boating industry, education, non-profits, government agencies, and more are encouraged to apply.

Reviewers will be part of a national effort to improve the environment and make our waterways cleaner and safer for everyone. The time commitment is manageable, with reviewers asked to commit to at least one review cycle (2-3 months) and an expected time commitment of 25 hours per cycle, including independent review of proposals and virtual meetings.

If you’re interested in being a part of this important mission, visit the Grant Reviewer Application page on the BoatUS Foundation website to apply. BoatUS Foundation president Heather Lougheed expressed pride in helping NOAA carry out this vital mission and emphasized the importance of removing abandoned and derelict vessels from our shores and waterways.

In the future, the Foundation hopes to expand the program to inland freshwater lakes and waterways, with the ultimate goal of diminishing ADV removals through educational and preventive efforts. Lougheed highlighted the cost-effectiveness of preventing owners from abandoning their boats by providing alternative disposal options.

Join the BoatUS Foundation in their efforts to clean up our waterways and make a positive impact on the environment. Apply to be a grant reviewer today and be a part of this important mission!