Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE)
Forecasted
Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) supports California local public agencies in removing abandoned recreational vessels and accepting surrendered boats to prevent environmental and navigation hazards.
Funder: California Department of Parks and Recreation
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Awards capped at 10% of the total SAVE budget (typically $2.75 million annually), with two-year terms
Summary: SAVE supports California local public agencies in removing abandoned recreational vessels and preventing vessel abandonment, environmental degradation, and navigation hazards.
Key Information: Applicants must be local public agencies with jurisdiction over navigable waterways in California.
Description
The Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) is administered by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). It awards grants annually to qualified local public agencies statewide to remove, reduce, and prevent abandoned recreational vessels in California waterways. Supported work includes abatement, removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned, wrecked, or dismantled vessels and vessel parts.
Prevention is also a central focus. Through the Surrendered Vessel Program, participating agencies intercept vessels before abandonment creates environmental degradation or navigation hazards. Agencies decide which surrendered vessels to accept based on the danger of abandonment. Formerly the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund and Vessel Turn In Program, SAVE has provided millions of dollars in grants and removed thousands of vessels.
