Derelict Vessels

A derelict vessel is simply defined as a craft which is discarded or abandoned and at the point of disrepair. Canada has the largest coastline on the planet, which brings about high boat traffic including pleasure crafts, fishing vessels, commercial barges, and more. The quantity of watercrafts has led to a steady growth of derelict vessels. Creating a wide array of ecological hazards to both terrestrial and oceanic species within our coastal ecosystems.

A watercraft can become a derelict vessel in several ways including: owners who can no longer afford vessels dump or sink their crafts, and vessels can be stolen or discarded. Moreover, weather has quite a large impact on vessels becoming sunken or abandoned in remote coastal locations. Extreme storms and tidal patterns cause poorly secured watercrafts to break loose from anchorage and lead to the vessel’s demise, contributing to the accumulation of anthropogenic debris on Canadas vast coastlines.

Derelict vessels can be found sunken at moorings or deeper waters, stuck in marshes, reefs and tidal areas. Often, derelict vessels resting in navigational channels block or complicate the access of other crafts to pass through such as large cargo and fishing crafts.

Derelict vessels start to decay over time, sink, and disperse toxins, materials, and other anthropogenic debris into the ecosystems in which it lays to rest. Vessels quite often contain considerable quantities of fuel still inside. Fuel tanks slowly corrode and crack, spilling oil into the water. Derelict vessel oil spills sometimes can even take decades to occur.

Furthermore, other hazardous & toxic substances are made up of ocean crafts. Hull paint can contain copper, a toxic compound. In addition to paint, boats smash into rocks and reefs, dispersing and breaking down fibreglass, plastics, and other materials. These materials pollute the coast and are ingested by fish and other oceanic species, introducing toxic and unnatural substances into the food chain. The vessel itself can be resting in an area of rich marine life. The broken pieces, spillage, and included debris are all very detrimental to marine mammals such as pinnipeds, whales, dolphins, and porpoises either due to entanglement or ingestion. Moreover, the ocean floor, where some vessels rest, is destroyed alongside surrounding habitat.

Many organizations are working tirelessly on restoration initiatives on Canadas coastline. Focal projects being the safe removals of these derelict vessels. Though incentives are underway, it is an extremely difficult financial and technical burden to remove each abandoned ocean craft. From surveying a location, to the removal of each vessel, requires equipment such as cranes, barges, and a collective workforce ranging from divers to highly trained technicians.

In the past, these financial burdens were one of many factors halting derelict vessel removal projects. In 2019, the BC Government established a coastal restoration fund called the Clean Coast Clean Waters Initiative (CCCW).  A significantly large fund was granted to a handful of likeminded BC organizations. Concluding its first stage, the CCCW has now been the largest collective coastal cleanup operation in history.

To prevent more watercrafts of becoming abandoned and sources of pollution, boat owners need to keep their registrations current, purchase boaters’ insurance and maintain their vessels. Having a boat ‘end of life’ plan is important. This could be recycling, salvaging, or sustainably disposing their craft at the correct facility.