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Police report: Liberty Bay sees clusters of anchored boats, sewage and derelict‑vessel concerns; council urged code enforcement
Summary
Poulsbo Police provided a marine-patrol update noting many anchored vessels in Liberty Bay, including liveaboards and suspected derelict boats. Officers reported environmental concerns from sewage pumpouts, safety hazards from unlit anchored boats and the city code and DNR derelict-vessel process as enforcement tools.
Poulsbo Police presented a marine-patrol update on March 19 describing a concentration of anchored vessels in Liberty Bay, a rise in liveaboards and a mix of derelict and unattended boats that raise environmental and navigational safety concerns.
Sergeant Sean Zeman and officer Dave Hausberg briefed council on patrol capacity and enforcement options. Officers said the bay currently hosts a mix of visitors, transient boats and an estimated dozen liveaboards; other vessels appeared abandoned or poorly maintained. Police noted particular concern about sewage discharges: a privately contracted transient pump-out service logged 58 pump-outs associated with the area during the covered season but staff said liveaboard sewage discharges remain a problem because the pump-out program, as contracted, is focused on transient vessels and not set up to serve liveaboards in anchorages.
Officers described safety hazards including anchored boats without anchor lights at night, sinking or partially submerged vessels that can damage other boats and interference with a designated seaplane route. Sergeants explained existing enforcement tools: state anchorage rules (30 days consecutive or 90 days cumulative in a 365-day period) that generate a daily fine (historically about $99) and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) derelict-vessel program that can be used to remove sunken or hazardous vessels, subject to DNR funding availability. Officers also said the city’s Shoreline Master Program contains a prohibition on liveaboards outside marinas, a code provision that staff will confirm with the city attorney and use in enforcement if validated.
Police said derelict and sunk boats can cost the city thousands to remove; recent examples cited included an $8,000 removal bill for a sunken boat. Officers asked for coordination with Port of Poulsbo and other agencies, noted the value of consistent daily observations for anchorage enforcement and suggested registration or check-in practices and improved outreach to boaters as possible next steps.
Council thanked police and discussed interagency coordination with Kitsap County and the Port, funding for pump-outs and enforcement and options to tighten enforcement. Staff said they will continue to pursue enforcement under current state and local authorities, coordinate with county and DNR programs and return with recommendations for additional tools if needed.
