Abandoned boats are an increasing problem across Canada. In order to solve this problem the Government of Canada announced funding through its Abandoned Boats Program. This $6.85 million program provides funding to support the assessment, removal and disposal of abandoned boats from communities across Canada.
A call for proposals under the Abandoned Boats Program was launched on April 3, 2018, and will remain open until March 31, 2019. Additional calls for proposal will be issued later in 2019.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
Namely, more than $110,000 will be allocated for the following organizations to assess 31 boats that litter shores on the East Coast:
- Nova Scotia Lands (Nova Scotia) – $105,285
- St. Anthony Port Authority (Newfoundland) – $5,000
Assessments will identify safety issues, environmental impact, recycling value and costs regarding removing an abandoned boat. When an assessment is completed, applicants may apply for funding under the Abandoned Boats Program to have a boat removed and disposed.
The $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan aims to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways. This strategy is creating a marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians, while protecting the country’s coastlines and clean water.
Bernadette Jordan Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, mentioned:
The Oceans Protection Plan’s Abandoned Boats Program addresses the negative effects of abandoned vessels, like the ones in Bridgewater. Congratulations to all selected communities for working with us to address environmental pollution and hazards to navigation caused by these abandoned vessels.
In addition, Canada will try to improve vessel owner identification, by creating an inventory of vessels and assessing their risks, setting up a polluter pays approach for vessel clean up.
Finally, in order to reduce problematic ships, the Government of Canada proposed a new legislation for wrecked, abandoned, and hazardous vessels. The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (Bill C-64) will bring the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, into Canadian law and strengthen vessel owner liability.
