The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has issued another fine under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, marking just the third time ever that a fine was handed out since the act was created in 2019.
The $15,000 fine was handed out on April 3 to the owner of an unnamed, 30-foot long (9-metre) sailing vessel that had washed along the Jericho Beach breakwater in Vancouver.
The owner, who is from B.C., was then given 30 days to pay the fine or apply for a review, according to the coast guard.
It’s just the third time in five years that the CCG has handed out a fine through the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, with the first being issued to the owner of a washed up vessel in Victoria in 2023.
The second fine was handed out to the owner of a sinking boat in Haida Gwaii earlier this year.
The fines are only issued if vessel owners fail to comply with coast guard directions, such as removing a problem vessel or taking all reasonable measures to prevent pollution, according to the CCG.
Owners are responsible for all cleanup, repairs or remediation costs taken by the coast guard, and the CCG only issues the fines as a last resort.
The unnamed vessel on the Jericho Beach breakwater was considered a risk to the environment and public safety because of its overall instability, because the damaged fiberglass hull was breaking off and spreading into the marine environment, and because the vessel caused structural damage to the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club building.
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Adam Chan
