The vessel Lady Grace has been sitting on the bottom of the Hoquiam River near the Humdinger since March — and, according to state and local authorities, it’s up to the boat’s owner to remove it from the waterway.

“The owner has been contacted and was involved with trying to recover the vessel, before eventually abandoning it there when his salvage efforts failed,” according to Jerry Farmer with the derelict vessel removal program with the State Department of Natural Resources.

When the vessel was first discovered sunk in its current position, the State Department of Ecology responded and pumped out the fuel and oily waste related to it, said Farmer. As to the removal of the boat: “The decision to remove, since the owner is unwilling to take control of his vessel, would be up to the city of Hoquiam.”

Hoquiam Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff said the city has contacted the owner, “but the authority is not ours to take legal action, so we are attempting to get outside help.”

Farmer said the state’s program can provide up to 90 percent reimbursement to the city for the removal of the vessel, “if our budget allows.”

Dickhoff said July 26 that she has been in contact with the Department of Natural Resources to see if the city qualifies for state funding to have the Lady Grace removed.

Derelict vessels are typically the responsibility of the Coast Guard. However, even they are limited as to what they can do about sunken vessels that aren’t an impediment to navigation. If it’s out of the navigation channel, it’s not on the Coast Guard to remove it.

“The responsibility first falls on the owner. If it’s been abandoned or is derelict, but on private property, it falls on the property owner,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.

The identity of the owner was not immediately available.