We found it difficult to believe. A derelict boat was sinking and virtually everyone who could have done something to rectify the situation was basically passing the buck to the next agency. Meanwhile, neighbors had to simply watch as it was slowly enveloped by the frigid waters of Liberty Bay.

A Port of Poulsbo employee swung by to pick some of the debris out of the water — including a gas can — but apparently did so only because it was floating toward the marina.

Meanwhile, local, county, state and even federal officials said the jurisdiction pretty much wasn’t theirs to worry about. In some cases, this is true. But the waters of Liberty Bay have to fall under someone’s wing. Don’t they? The idea that the cost involved with removing the vessel may have deterred our public agencies from taking charge of the situation is most unsettling.

If rumor had it that the vessel carried gold bullion, we assure you that these same agencies would be engaged in a bitter political tug-o-war to decide who had legal claim to the riches. As it was, they simply pushed the problem from one to the next, hoping that someone, somewhere along the line would step up to the plate and get a handle on the situation.

Hats off to Poulsbo Fire Chief Jim Shields, by the way. This problem isn’t even close to being in his jurisdiction, yet he’s really the only one who truly went out of his way to find out whose it is. Hopefully, they’ll get a handle on things so decisions on future derelict boats don’t suffer a similar fate.