Poulsbo and Port officials press enforcement as Liberty Bay derelict vessels and pump‑out use spark concern

Poulsbo police and Port of Poulsbo officials said May 28 they are stepping up enforcement in Liberty Bay after staff and residents raised concerns about anchored vessels, sewage discharge and safety.

Officer Dave Hausburg, the Poulsbo Police Department’s marine officer, told the joint meeting: "We have 12 liveaboards that are identified out there, with a couple of just random transients that have not been identified yet... The majority of these 12 have been out there for years... None of them are using the pump out service." He said the department is using the city’s municipal code (60‑day and 90‑day thresholds) as practical enforcement tools even though state RCW limits some actions to 30 days.

Why it matters: Officials flagged environmental and public‑safety risks — officers and port staff said they see evidence of boats discharging in the bay and noted that long‑term unmaintained vessels can become derelict and eventually sink. Removing derelict vessels is expensive; the port said it spent about $74,000 in 2024 to remove three vessels.

Key points from the meeting - Scope and counts: Officers and ports staff said roughly 32 vessels anchored across Liberty Bay were being tracked; about a dozen are long‑term live‑aboard or derelict vessels. Hausburg said many vessels are not using pump‑out services and that visible discharge is occurring near anchors. - Enforcement approach: Hausburg described a stepped approach: education and outreach first, then use of municipal time‑limit enforcement (60 and 90 days) where staff capacity allows, and escalations (fines and vessel seizure/tow) where necessary. "They can only stay out there for 30 days," Hausburg said when describing the underlying state time limit, but he said the department is applying municipal thresholds that are more enforceable with current staffing. - Pump‑out services and funding: A private pump‑out boat is operating in Liberty Bay this season and the port and city both provide free shore‑side pump‑outs. Port staff said a subscription and reimbursement model exists; the port and city each contributed $5,000 to support pump‑out services when the program began. The port reported it receives logs from the pump‑out operator documenting boats serviced. - Grants for removals: Carol (Port of Poulsbo staff) said the state derelict‑vessel reimbursement program can be tapped; she advised that ports and local governments can request funding at the start of the state reimbursement cycle to earmark funds. She reported the port’s recent derelict‑vessel costs and said the port has coordinated with Kitsap County and the state on removal timing.

Community and interagency work Officials recommended closer, recurring coordination: the city, port, county sheriff’s office and other agencies already meet in a county derelict‑vessel working group; meeting participants suggested semiannual joint meetings and more regular operational coordination. Mayor Becky Erickson said she would raise interagency coordination with the police chief.

Ending: Police and port leaders said enforcement and outreach would continue through the summer, with potential removals and state reimbursement requests to follow for vessels that remain derelict. No arrests or formal forfeitures were recorded during the meeting; officials said enforcement will be incremental and involve partner agencies.