AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) is partnering with Galveston County and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to provide the residents of Galveston County with a Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), a free opportunity to relinquish unwanted boats and vessels.

To relinquish unwanted boats, participants must receive pre-approval for their vessel and meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Vessels must be less than 26 feet in length
• No trailers accepted
• Boats must be cleared of trash and debris
• Residents must bring their approved boats to the turn in site. Transportation is NOT provided.
• Owners must obtain pre-approval by JANUARY 12, 2024. Only pre-approved vessels will be accepted

Reservations are being accepted now. 

To reserve your spot, call: 409-766-4516 or 409-766-4512.

Removing abandoned vessels from coastal waters comes at a considerable expense—around $200-300 per foot. The GLO and its partners encourage communities to participate in VTIPs to avoid these steep costs and to keep their boats from becoming environmental or safety hazards.

Since it began in 2015, VTIP has hosted 34 events in various coastal communities— in total, 1,380 derelict and inoperable boats measuring 22,231 linear feet have been removed from coastal areas through these essential programs.