An Act respecting wrecks, abandoned, dilapidated or hazardous vessels and salvage operations

Short title: Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act Bill C-64 (42-1) Status: Royal assent received Type: House Government Bill Sponsor: Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount) Latest stage: Royal assent Legislative

summary <div>The pre-release version of this Legislative

Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament at Info@parl.gc.ca.<br/><br/>On October 2017, the Minister of Transport introduced Bill C-64,

An Act respecting wrecks, abandoned, dilapidated or hazardous vessels and salvage operations (Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading.<br/><br/>Bill C-64 amends enacts the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, which promotes the protection of the public, of the environment, including coastlines and shorelines, and of infrastructure by regulating abandoned or hazardous vessels and wrecks in Canadian waters and, in certain cases, Canada’s exclusive economic zone, and by recognizing the responsibility and liability of owners for their vessels.<br/><br/>The Act, among other things,<br/>(

a) implements the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007;<br/>(

b) requires owners of vessels of gross tonnage and above, and unregistered vessels being towed, to maintain wreck removal insurance or other financial security;<br/>(

c) prohibits vessel abandonment unless it is authorized under

an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province or it is due to a maritime emergency;<br/>(

d) prohibits the leaving of a dilapidated vessel in the same place for more than 60 days without authorization;<br/>(

e) authorizes the Minister of Transport or the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to order the removal of a dilapidated vessel left on any federal property;<br/>(

f) authorizes the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to take measures to prevent, mitigate or eliminate hazards posed by vessels or wrecks and to hold the owner liable;<br/>(

g) authorizes the Minister of Transport to take measures with respect to abandoned or dilapidated vessels and to hold the owner liable;<br/>(

h) establishes an administration and enforcement scheme, including administrative monetary penalties; and<br/>(

i) authorizes the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting such matters as excluding certain vessels from the application of the Act, setting fees and establishing requirements for salvage operations, the towing of vessels and the dismantlement or destruction of vessels.<br/><br/>The enactment also re-enacts and revises provisions related to the International Convention on Salvage, 1989 and to the receiver of wreck.

The enactment strengthens the protection of owners of certain wrecks in cases where the owner is unknown or cannot be located and maintains regulatory powers related to the protection and preservation of wrecks having heritage value.<br/><br/>Finally, it makes related and consequential amendments to other Acts.</div> House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2017-10-30) House of Commons — Second reading: Completed (2017-12-05) House of Commons — Consideration in committee: Completed (2018-03-02) House of Commons — Report stage: Completed (2018-06-19) House of Commons — Third reading: Completed (2018-06-20) Senate — First reading: Completed (2018-09-18) Senate — Second reading: Completed (2018-10-18) Senate — Consideration in committee: Completed (2018-12-07) Senate — Report stage: Completed (2018-12-10) Senate — Third reading: Completed (2018-12-10) Full bill text is not included in the LEGISinfo JSON export.

Open the official Parliament of Canada bill page for the complete document.