Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program

On this page

• Overview
  • Program summary
  • Application deadlines
• How to remove a vessel
  • Before you begin
  • Develop a project plan
  • Include a budget plan
  • Steps to obtain legal possession
• Apply to the program
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Eligible activities
  • Conditions of funding
  • Before starting your application
  • When submitting your application
• Frequently asked questions
• Regional contacts
• Guides and forms
• Related information

Overview

In November 2016, Canada launched a $1.5 billion national Oceans Protection Plan. with $1.5 billion in funding for 5 years. In 2022, a new investment of $2 billion over nine years was announced to continue OPP 2.0. OPP 2.0 is a renewed and expanded plan based on OPP 1.0 that aims to:

• enhance the protection and restoration of vulnerable marine ecosystems and wildlife
• improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of Canada’s marine supply chains and mitigate their impacts on the environment, including by advancing research on marine pollution, ecosystems, and wildlife
• better manage marine traffic navigation off our coasts and marine incidents of all types
• advance partnerships and training opportunities for Indigenous and coastal communities to incorporate their expertise and experiences in various aspects of marine safety and ecosystem protection

The plan includes a comprehensive program to reduce abandoned and wrecked vessels and to minimize the associated risks of environmental harm.

The Government of Canada has launched 2 programs to address legacy vessels of concern:

• Transport Canada’s Abandoned Boats Program
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Small Craft Harbours (SCH) Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program

Program summary

The SCH Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program under OPP 2.0 will provide up to 250 thousand dollar yearly to Harbour Authorities and other eligible recipients to remove and dispose of abandoned and/or wrecked vessels located in small craft harbours owned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Eligible recipients may receive up to 100% of their total eligible costs for gaining legal possession of a vessel and for assessing the cost of removal and disposal of the vessel, and up to 75% for activities to undertake the removal and disposal of an abandoned and wrecked vessel in a small craft harbour.

Application deadlines

How to remove a vessel

If you have found a vessel that you have determined to meet the definition of abandoned and/or wrecked, and you wish to remove and dispose of it:

• document your actions
• take photos of the vessel
• use the following steps below

If the vessel is located in a small craft harbour listed in Schedule I of the Fishing and Recreation Harbours Regulations, you may apply to the SCH Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program.

If the vessel is located outside of a small craft harbour, you may be eligible for funding through the Transport Canada Abandoned Boats Program.

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
• 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
• it is stranded, in distress or dilapidated

Before you begin

Determine whether the vessel poses an immediate and serious threat to public safety (because of fire, explosion, suspicious activity).

• Call 911

Determine whether the boat or wreck poses a potential, actual or immediate threat to the environment (leaking oil, or other pollution)

• Contact the Canadian Coast Guard

Determine whether the boat or wreck poses a potential, actual or immediate threat to safe navigation (makes navigation dangerous, blocks boats from passage)

• Contact Transport Canada’s Navigation Protection Program

Develop a project plan

The most effective way to keep track of all elements of the project is through a project plan. The project plan should clearly outline the planned schedule with key activities and timelines, such as:

• planning and preparation, including:
  • assessments
  • surveys
  • possession activities
• project delivery, including:
  • removal
  • disposal

Ensure that potential liabilities are accounted for, and contractors and surveyors have appropriate insurance, certifications, field experience, etc.

Assessments should take into consideration the complexity of the project, risks posed by the vessel in its current state as well as risks associated with its removal (whether safety or environmental), salvage value (if appropriate).

A mitigation strategy may also be necessary, particularly if the removal is complex, with high risk factors related to pollutants, disturbance of sensitive ecological areas, introduction of aquatic invasive species, etc.

Include a budget plan

For every element of the project plan, you must keep track of expenditures.

For the purposes of reimbursement under the cost-shared Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program, you will also be required to track in-kind or cash contributions, outside funding sources, and any other financial support received.

You may want to consider obtaining multiple quotes for the removal and disposal process. The quote(s) should outline expected costs for all steps in the process including, but not limited to:

• salvage costs (e.g., raising, securing and preparing the vessel)
• transportation costs (e.g., towing to appropriate location for removal, towing to disposal site); and
• disposal costs (e.g., demolition, dumping fees, environmental permits)

Steps to obtain legal possession

You must obtain legal possession of the vessel in order to assess, remove and dispose of it. Legal possession is not ownership. It allows you access to the vessel for the sole purpose of removing and disposing of it. Ownership of the vessel is not required.

If the owner is willing to transfer possession of the vessel for the purpose of removal and disposal:

If the owner is unwilling to transfer possession of the vessel for the purpose of removal and disposal:

If the owner is unknown:

Apply to the program

This program is primarily geared towards funding the removal of vessels from commercial fishing harbours, in-line with Small Craft Harbours’ primary mandate of operating and maintaining harbours that are critical to the commercial fishing industry. However, applications for other harbours will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis provided that they meet all of the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria

In order to apply to the program, the following criteria must be met:

1. an eligible recipient includes:
   1. a province or agency thereof, as defined in s. 2 of the Fishing and Recreational Harbours Act (FRHA);
   2. a non-profit organization;
   3. an Indigenous group;
   4. any person, as defined in s. 5(3) of the FRHA; and/or
   5. any combination of the above.
2. The vessel(s) must be located within a small craft harbour that is listed in Schedule I of the Fishing and Recreational Harbours Regulations.

Eligible activities

The SCH Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program provides contribution funding for the following types of activities:

1. Vessel possession and assessment costs/expenses:
   • Recipients who are eligible for funding to conduct this type of activity may be reimbursed for up to 100% of eligible expenditures, up to $5,000 per vessel
   • Examples of activities: legal fees, assessments of environmental risk, assessment of removal hazards, etc.
2. Vessel removal and disposal costs/expenses:
   • Recipients who are eligible for funding to conduct this type of activity may be reimbursed for up to 75% of eligible expenditures, up to $50,000 per vessel
   • Examples of activities: salvage costs (e.g. raising and securing a vessel), transportation costs (getting a vessel to a disposal site), disposal costs (e.g. dumping fees)

Conditions of funding

The SCH Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program is a contribution program that provides financial support to eligible applicants on a cost-shared basis.

• It is the responsibility of the applicant to initiate and carry-out the activities and to assume the costs associated with the removal and disposal of a vessel. Providing all requirements for the program have been met, SCH can provide monetary reimbursements for expenses, as described in the Eligible Activities section

Before starting your application

Before you begin the process of applying, ensure that:

1. The vessel is located in a small craft harbour that is listed in Schedule I of the Fishing and Recreational Harbours Regulations.
2. You have read the Application Guide in full.
3. You have all the required information to complete the application.

When submitting your application

1. Ensure that your application is complete, accurate, and comprehensive.
2. Include all supporting documentation with your application:
   1. proof of legal possession of the vessel, notarized (if applicable)
   2. photos of the vessel
   3. Canadian Coast Guard or Transport Canada Assessments (if applicable)
   4. Vessel Assessment(s) (where applicable)
   5. Project Plan;
   6. Budget Plan; and
   7. Additional Vessel Form (if applicable)

If you have any questions or would like assistance with the application, contact your appropriate regional office.

Once you have completed all steps, submit the application form to your appropriate regional office.

Frequently asked questions

Regional contacts

Pacific Region (British Columbia and Yukon):

Small Craft Harbours
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200-401 Burrard St
Vancouver BC
V6C 3S4

Contact: Lam.Hughson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Ontario and Prairies Region (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut):

Small Craft Harbours
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
867, Lakeshore Rd
Burlington, ON
L7S 1A1

Contact: Annette.Winter@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Quebec Region:

Small Craft Harbours
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
104 Dalhousie St
Québec QC
G1K 7Y7

Contact: Melany.Westerloppe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Maritimes and Gulf Region (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island):

Small Craft Harbours
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
343 Ave Université Ave
PO Box 5030
Moncton NB
E1C 9B6

Contact: Stephanie.Sirois@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador Region:

Small Craft Harbours
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
80 Est White Hills Rd
P.O Box 5667
St. John’s NL
A1C 5X1

Contact: Marilyn.Pike@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Guides and forms

• Application Form
• Additional Vessel Application Form
• Application Guide
• Owner Consent Form for Vessels on Land

Related information

• About The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
• Addressing abandoned and wrecked vessels
• Transport Canada Abandoned Boats Program
• Completed projects