Just like every other thing you possess, at some point of time even boats will be worn out, and they need to be disposed off. Proper boat disposal is part and parcel of clean boating practices! So, why should we concern ourselves with the proper disposal of unwanted vessels? These old vessels pose environmental hazards that need to be avoided.

So if you possess a boat that can no longer be used, don’t just let it sink by itself! You might wonder as to why you shouldn’t sink your unwanted vessel! Sinking of unwanted vessels is not only illegal, and it also causes harm to the water resource. So beware! If you are found sinking an unwanted vessel, you may be charged with a fine of up to $1500 as per section 525 of the Harbors and Navigation Code. Here are a few things that you could do to dispose your used vessel.

• You can think of donating your used boat to some charity, which will accept unwanted vessels as tax-deductible donations. But make sure that your boat is in a good condition when you donate it! Clean your boat’s bilge by using eco-friendly bilge cleaners such as the Oil Gone Easy S-200 for oil cleanup.

• Another way of boat disposal is by reselling your used boat or rather its reusable parts. Certain salvagers or used boat parts dealers will be able to make money from your used boats by reselling them. But the charges for dismantling your boat will be deducted from the total value of the useable parts. There are a few dealers who place certain constraints on the length and the vessel type that they accept. So if you’re looking for a used boat parts dealer, you can get help from your local yellow pages.

• If you think that your used vessel is totally out of condition, then you can look for dealers who dismantle and dispose the vessel. The marginal cost for enlisting these waste disposal services is somewhere between $15 and $20.

Practice proper boat disposal methods and ensure that you keep the waters clean!

Causes of oil pollution are many. They can range from minor spills from recreational boats to serious oil spills from commercial vessels. Whatever the cause, it leads to serious marine pollution.

Large oil spills come to notice very quickly. Marine pollution authorities therefore respond quickly to clean them up. But minor oil spills that result from pumping oily bilge water overboard or from careless refueling go unnoticed even though they are a major cause of marine pollution, which harms the marine environment.

Several steps have been taken to prevent marine pollution, including laws such as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. According to these acts, the discharge of any kind of oil in the navigable water of the United States that causes a film, sheen, discoloration, sludge, or emulsion on or beneath the surface of water is strictly prohibited and can result in stiff civic penalties.

To avoid these penalties and to prevent further oil pollution here are some preventive measures that will help in keeping the discharged bilge water clean.

• The engine of the boat should be maintained properly to avoid fuel or oil leaks. Oil filters should also be changed often.

• Floating oil, if any, should be soaked up with a sorbent material before pumping the bilge. An absorbent pad or a drip tray should also be kept under the engine.

• During bilge cleaning do not mix detergents with oily bilge water as they can prove even more toxic than the oil. Instead, use a biodegradable bilge cleaner like Oil Gone Easy Marine S-200. This bilge cleaner is environmentally friendly and will not cause marine pollution.

Following these simple preventive measures will not only result in clean bilges but will also result in a green earth.