Initial Assessment

If you find a vessel, you should first determine if it can be best described as “abandoned” or “wrecked”.

An abandoned vessel includes at least one of the following:

• the owner is unknown or cannot be located;
• the owner expressed intent to abandon;
• the vessel has been in the same location for an unusually long period of time;
• there is no evidence of the vessel being looked after over a significant period of time;
• the vessel has drifted or has had to be re-secured by others;
• the vessel is slowly taking on water; and/or
• there is an absence of a current registration number.

A wrecked vessel includes one or more of the following:

• the vessel appears to be partially or substantially destroyed;
• it is partially or completely sunk;
• it is lying ashore or grounded; and/or;
• it is stranded, in distress or dilapidated.

If you find an abandoned boat or wreck the first thing to do is report it. Determining who to tell depends on whether the boat or wreck poses an immediate and serious threat to:

1. Public Safety;
2. The Environment;
3. Navigation.

Found an Abandoned Boat or Wreck?

If you want to keep an abandoned boat or salvage a wreck

Taking possession of an abandoned boat before it becomes a wreck saves time and money. However, if the boat or wreck has heritage or military value, don’t touch it. Contact the Transport Canada regional office closest to where you live.

If you find and want an abandoned boat or wreck that doesn’t have heritage or military value:

• Contact the owner if you know them
• Use these steps illustrated in the flowchart to locate the owner.
• If you can’t find the owner, contact Transport Canada for information and help.

For more information about claiming wrecks, please visit Transport Canada’s Receiver of Wreck frequently asked questions website.

For more information about the Navigation Protection Program, please visit the Navigation Protection Program.