Transport Canada Prepares to Eliminate Abandoned Vessels

Transport Canada has announced a US$1.1 million commitment to remove 34 abandoned vessels in British Columbia waters, as the growing number of abandoned boats poses a threat to the environment, health, safety, and coastal economies. The funds will be used to assess, remove, and dispose of the abandoned and wrecked vessels, with a focus on protecting the coasts and waterways. The problem is particularly severe in British Columbia, which has the largest number of abandoned vessels.

The abandoned boats not only create an eyesore, but also have negative economic and environmental impacts, including pollution of the marine ecosystem, damage to infrastructure, interference with navigation, and safety risks. The investment into the Abandoned Boats Program is part of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, which aims to reduce the number of legacy problem vessels in Canadian waters and protect the delicate marine environment. Despite the funding for the removal of 223 boats since 2017, the Canadian Coast Guard’s inventory shows about 1,500 abandoned vessels in the country’s waters.

The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, passed in 2019, makes vessel abandonment illegal and imposes stiff penalties on individuals and firms found guilty. Last year, the owner of the sunken Spirit of Kelowna in British Columbia was fined US$19,800 for failing to comply with the law. The government is taking action to address the issue and protect the marine environment.

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