Illegal Practices Under the Act

Under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, the following are illegal practices:

• Abandoning your vessel
• Failing to maintain your vessel so that it becomes a wreck
• Sinking, stranding, or grounding your vessel on purpose
• Leaving your vessel, without authorization, in poor condition in an area for more than 60 days without permission from the location owner
• Leaving your vessel adrift for more than 48 hours without trying to secure it
• Taking possession of a wreck before reporting it to the Receiver of Wreck (ROW), unless:
  • The wreck is in danger and needs to be secured or protected, or…
  • The ROW authorizes you to take possession.
• Entering Canada with a wreck found outside of Canadian waters without reporting it to the ROW as soon as possible