Canada Considering Bill On Abandoned Boats

The Canadian House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is considering Bill C-64 (An Act respecting wrecks, abandoned, dilapidated or hazardous vessels and salvage operations).

If passed, Bill C-64 would make it illegal to abandon both commercial and recreational boats and allow the government to find and penalize owners of derelict boats that have already been abandoned. Individuals who abandon a boat would face fines up to $300,000 and a six-month jail term. Corporations could be fined as much as $6 million.

NMMA Canada president Sarah Anghel spoke in support of the bill, but in giving comments cautioned that the legislation had to separate commercial and recreational vessels as clean-up costs of abandoned commercial vessels are higher and the process more complicated than that for recreational boats.

“Our industry wants to ensure the burden of cost is not disproportionately placed on recreational boats. Should any levies or taxes be imposed on recreational boats through licensing, these funds must be used to support disposal of recreational boats specifically,” Anghel said.