Abandoned Boat Legislation

Traditionally, the problem of abandoned boats has not been given much attention.  This is due to a number of reasons, among them:

• Relatively small number of abandoned boats.
• Boats that are abandoned tend to be relatively small.
• Older boat materials (e.g. wood) degrade and don’t pose as much of a threat. 

However, with growing congestion in coastal areas and growing environmental concerns for our oceans, the International Maritime Organization decided to act and developed the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks.   The Convention provides the legal framework to allow a country to remove a shipwreck that may have the potential to negatively impact the safety of people and navigation and the marine environment. 

In Canada, the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessel Act has been developed and works with the Nairobi convention to protect Canada’s shorelines, coastlines and waters.  It recognizes the responsibility and liability of owners for their vessels.