Rep. Harder recently visited the Aurora with members of the Coast Guard and other local officials to hear about their efforts to contain the pollution and protect the Delta

Footage of Rep. Harder touring the Aurora and speaking to the Coast Guard and local authorities about the situation is available HERE.

June 10, 2024 - WASHINGTON – Last week, following a recent visit to the sinking Aurora Cruise Ship near Stockton which is polluting the Delta, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-9) threw his support behind the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act. According to authorities, there are other abandoned and deteriorating ships that are safety hazards in the Delta and must be dealt with before they pollute the water. This legislation would allow the US Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers to remove these dangerous vessels from waterways.


Rep. Harder heard from the Coast Guard, California Fish and Wildlife, and other agencies about the status of cleanup efforts, then he boarded the Aurora to observe the damage.

“Protecting our water is essential to keeping families, our environment, and wildlife safe,” said Rep. Harder. “I had the opportunity to board the Aurora with the Coast Guard, and I was disturbed to learn there are more neglected boats that could cause even more damage to our waterways. We have to get these hazardous ships out of our waters and hold owners accountable.”

People have been illegally dumping their vessels into the Delta and other waterways, creating a major safety hazard. There is currently no federal law to hold these owners accountable for the removal of the boats and instead, the taxpayers end up with the bill.

Specifically, the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act would:

• Establish a process for determining if a vessel is abandoned before it is removed;
• Allow the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to pay for the removal of deteriorating abandoned vessels while holding vessel owners responsible for reimbursing the costs;
• Mandate that vessels purchased during federal auctions must have proper insurance and the owner must be able to maintain the vessel;
• Give the Army Corps of Engineers the authority to remove abandoned dangerous vessels; and
• Establish a central inventory of abandoned and derelict vessels.
  Source: Congressman Josh Harder