(a) A person finding or having in that person’s own possession a vessel that was adrift or abandoned, or any lost, abandoned, or stolen property relating to a vessel, shall turn the vessel or property over to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for disposition pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding § 8026 of Title 29, whenever a vessel or property relating to a vessel comes into the custody of the Department and the person entitled to possession of the vessel or property cannot be located and fails to claim possession for a period of 6 months, the Secretary of the Department may dispose of the vessel or property at public sale at a place which is convenient and accessible to the public, provided that the time, place, and terms of the sale, together with a description of the vessel or property, are published in 1 or more daily newspapers in the State at least once each week for 2 successive weeks prior to the sale. The Secretary shall, in the Secretary’s discretion, fix the terms of sale and may employ an auctioneer to conduct the sale. If the vessel or property is of a kind for which a certificate of title or registration has been or should have been issued by the Department, the Secretary shall cause notice by registered mail to be sent at least 10 days before the sale to the owner and lienholder, if any, shown on the records of the Department, or to the person entitled to possession of the vessel or property, if the person’s address is known or if it can be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable diligence. If an address cannot be ascertained, then notice under this paragraph is not required to be given.

(2) Notice pursuant to this subsection is not required when an abandoned vessel or property relating to a vessel is removed in an emergency situation which creates an actual or potential hazard to navigation.

(c) The proceeds from any vessel or property relating to a vessel sold pursuant to subsection (b) of this section must be placed in the General Fund, but only after any liens on the vessel or property are paid and any expenses incurred by the Department or by the person who turned over the vessel or property to the Department are paid. Reimbursable expenses include all direct expenses associated with the seizure, removal, transportation, preservation, storage, and disposal of a vessel or property relating to a vessel.

(d) For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Abandoned vessel” means:

a. A vessel that has been left illegally or has remained without permission for more than 30 days on public property, including public marinas, public docks, and public boatyards; or

b. A vessel that has been found adrift or unattended in or upon the public waters or public subaqueous land of the State, and is found in a condition of disrepair that constitutes a hazard or obstruction to the use of public waters or subaqueous land of the State or that presents a potential or actual health or environment hazard;

(2) “Department” means the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control;

(3) “Vessel” means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water or ice.

(e) The Department may seize, remove, transport, preserve, store, and dispose of any abandoned vessel or property relating to a vessel. For this purpose, the Department may use its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or use other persons, equipment, and facilities. The Department may not be held liable for any damage to an abandoned vessel or property relating to a vessel which may occur during seizure, removal, transportation, preservation, storage, or disposition.

(f) If an abandoned vessel or property relating to a vessel is in such a condition of disrepair that the Department cannot remove it intact, the Department may dispose of it in whatever manner is reasonable without providing the notice required under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(g) The Department may delegate to any local jurisdiction the Department’s authority under this chapter to seize, remove, transport, preserve, store, and dispose of abandoned vessels and property relating to a vessel.

(h) This § 1303 and § 1304 of this title do not apply to archaeological resources, including shipwrecks embedded in or located on the State’s subaqueous lands, which are regulated by the Department of State, Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Chapter 53 of Title 7.

64 Del. Laws, c. 242, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 13; 76 Del. Laws, c. 84, § 1.