Port Metro Vancouver announced last month it has addressed 118 of 151 abandoned boat sites on the Fraser River as part of its Fraser River Improvement Initiative.
The port spends $400,000 each year on addressing the derelict vessels, some of which remain in the river, as they pose no navigational or environmental threat, as deemed by authorities such as Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard.
“We are proud of the progress we’ve made in improving the river and ensuring owners take appropriate responsibility for their vessels or property,” said Tom Corsie, Vice President of Real Estate at Port Metro Vancouver.
The port said it attempts to work with owners of such vessels whenever possible.
Last May Conservative members of parliament shot down an NDP private members’ bill aimed to make the Coast Guard the sole receiver of wrecks.
The bill would mean more money would be needed for the Coast Guard, as in some cases abandoned boat owners are nowhere to be found. Some Conservatives said they would prefer a polluter-pay model with stricter penalties.
Some boats are not registered or insured, meaning they can be dumped without a trace.
