We hope you can join this webinar — part of the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s online webinar series, Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels!

Each month’s webinar features experts on a topic related to abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs). The goal of the series is to share perspectives from across the country on common issues arising from abandoned and derelict vessels, in hopes to help communities better deal with them.

This month's webinar, "Coordination Success Stories and Lessons Learned," will be presented by the following specialists:

• Dorothy Diehl, Policy Program Coordinator – Oregon State Marine Board
• Paul Murakawa, Aquatic Biologist – Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
• Stephen "Steve" Werndli, Enforcement Coordinator – NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

As a policy program coordinator for the Oregon State Marine Board, Dorothy has spent the last two years coordinating the agency’s Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program. The Abandoned Vessel Removal Assistance Program (AVRAP) is a collaboration between the ADV program and the Clean Marina program. This pilot project is to help Clean Marinas remove ADVs from their facilities. Dorothy will provide an overview and early results of the AVRAP.

Paul has worked for DAR for the past 30 years and has been involved with most of the vessel groundings on O'ahu during this time. In October 2017, a 79’ longline vessel, Commercial Fishing Vessel Pacific Paradise, grounded on a shallow reef off Waikiki (south shore of O'ahu). Paul will share his experience as part of a team represented by federal and state agencies, as well as the salvors (hired by the vessel owner) that were tasked with removing the Pacific Paradise from the reef.

Steve has worked for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary since 2002. He manages the sanctuary’s authorizations program and evaluates nearshore construction and other projects to ensure they comply with applicable regulatory and environmental compliance requirements and are compatible with the sanctuary’s resource protection goals. Stephen will provide an overview on the use of Resource Advisors during vessel removal operations and their role after a disaster.

Please join us, and mark your calendar for the fourth Wednesday of the month at 3 pm ET/2pm CT/12 pm PT/10 am HT — and feel free to share the series with anyone with an interest in abandoned and derelict vessels!