ABANDONED BOAT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION
The potential passing of Bill C - 64 will prohibit the abandonment of derelict recreational and commercial vessels, providing a giant step towards cleaner, safer shorelines for municipalities and the boating community.
To effectively address the increasing concern of derelict boats along shorelines, inlets, rivers, or elsewhere, the Federal Government is expected to pass Bill C-64 (the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act) in June 2019, making it illegal to abandon a commercial or recreational vessel once it needs to be “retired,” and can no longer be sold, retrofitted or donated to charity.
According to Lisa Geddes, Executive Director of Boating BC Association, the abandonment of derelict boats has been a long-standing concern and following a series of grievances from waterfront residents and local MPs – specifically on the BC Coast – the issue was eventually brought to the attention of the Federal Government and Bill C-64 was introduced.
In addition to being an “eye sore” along any waterfront, abandoned vessels can potentially be a navigational, environmental and safety hazard, in addition to the risk of releasing fuel or other toxins that can put marine life at risk. They also pose a threat to the boating public, beachgoers and can be a hindrance to waterfront businesses or local economies.
“When the government began taking steps with this issue, they realized the magnitude of the problem,” said Geddes. “They haven’t wholly quantified it, but it’s estimated there are more than 700 abandoned, derelict commercial and recreational vessels along the BC coast alone.”
Those that don’t comply with Bill C-64 can face penalties/fines up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for companies or corporations.
As a result, Geddes emphasized it’s the responsibility of all boaters (of recreational or commercial vessels) to appropriately manage their vessels through to “their end of life.” In fact, this past March, the Boating BC Association received a Federal Grant under Transport Canada’s Abandoned Boats Program, which is devised to implement prevention initiatives through education and awareness.
“It’s always been implied that it is the boater’s responsibility to dispose of their vessel, but it has never been clearly articulated,” says Geddes. “So, the goal of our campaign is to ensure boaters are aware of their responsibility and to manage their boat through to the end of its useful life.”
Boating BC’s campaign includes a resource on its website that includes a listing of businesses offering boat disposal services in communities across BC, plus details about when to dispose of a boat, environmentally-friendly methods, costs, transport, and overall responsibilities.
“This is how we can help boaters with some questions they have,” says Geddes.
“So far, there has been a positive response. People want to do their part to address the issue and they are happy to see there are resources available to help.”
For more information visit www.boatingbc. ca/boatdisposal and for all the details on Bill C-64 visit https://bit.ly/2NAnVVa