Alaska § 30.30.055 - Impoundment and disposition of derelict vessel.

§ 30.30.055. Impoundment and disposition of derelict vessel.

 (a) A state agency or municipality may impound a derelict vessel by        (1) securing the vessel in place;

 (2) towing or sailing the vessel to a secure mooring in a location that is authorized by the state agency or municipality; or

 (3) removing the vessel from the water and placing it in storage.

 (b) The state agency or municipality that impounds a vessel may sell, donate, or destroy the vessel if the vessel is not repossessed by the owner or a person with a financial or security interest in the vessel within 20 days after the postmark date of the notice mailed under AS 30.30.045 (a). The sale of a vessel may be by public auction or by sealed bids or, if no bids are received, by negotiated sale.

 (c) A state agency or municipality may, by regulation or ordinance, adopt sale or disposal methods that are consistent with the provisions of this chapter.

 (d) A state agency or municipality shall apply the proceeds from the sale of a vessel under this chapter in the following order:        (1) to the administrative costs associated with impounding the vessel;

 (2) to the costs of towing, handling, and storing the vessel;

 (3) to the administrative costs of conducting the sale;

 (4) to a lienholder to the extent of the lien;

 (5) to the owner of the vessel if the owner can be found; if the owner cannot be found, the balance shall be deposited into the general fund.

 (e) A state agency or municipality shall disperse the proceeds of the sale of a vessel at a public auction under federal law in accordance with federal law.

 (f) The state agency or municipality or its designees, employees, or agents are not liable for the disposition of a vessel to the owner, operator, or any lienholder of the vessel.

 (g) The transfer of title and interest by sale under this section is a transfer by operation of law. However, a bill of sale executed by an authorized seller is satisfactory evidence authorizing the transfer of the title or interest.