The Brief
- The Washington State Department of Natural Resources plans to take custody of the “graffiti ship” Albert on Oct. 22, with removal from Ballard estimated to cost $600,000 to $800,000 by late November.
- Despite attracting visitors and social media attention, the vessel poses safety risks from unauthorized boarding and has remained at the public dock for years amid past jurisdictional limits and legal disputes.
- The Albert is one of 358 “vessels of concern” statewide, with recent state legislation granting DNR expanded authority to address abandoned boats before they impact safety or the environment.
SEATTLE – A graffiti-covered ship that has drawn visitors and raised safety concerns in Ballard could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to remove, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
The department plans to take custody of the Albert, known as the “graffiti ship,” on Thursday, Oct. 22. Its removal would likely come toward the end of November, according to DNR.
Jerry Farmer, a natural resource specialist with the department’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program, said officials will have a better understanding of the cost once they gain access to the vessel. For a ship its size, he estimated removal could cost $600,000 to $800,000.…