Canadian Coast Guard Issues Penalty for Hazardous Vessels
News release
September 24, 2025 – Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard
Wrecked, abandoned, or hazardous vessels can pose threats to the environment, local communities and economies. Through the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada continues to take action to address problem vessels and ensure owner accountability.
On June 9, 2025, the Canadian Coast Guard exercised its authority under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act to issue an Administrative Monetary Penalty to the owner of two pleasure crafts in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
The Canadian Coast Guard determined that the vessels posed a hazard to the environment and public safety. The vessel owner was issued a penalty of $13,500 and was required to pay within 30 days or to apply for a review hearing with the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada by July 9, 2025. The penalty was issued after the owner failed to comply with a direction issued by the Canadian Coast Guard to remove the vessels from the river.
The Canadian Coast Guard has intervened on multiple occasions with this owner, who was fined in 2024 for another dangerous vessel in the same location. These vessels are considered dangerous as they pose a risk of pollution, obstruction to navigation, and damage to the shoreline and public infrastructure.
Under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, the Canadian Coast Guard is required to publicly report the fines issued to vessel owners on its website.
The Canadian Coast Guard asks for the public’s assistance in reporting wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels. Contact the Canadian Coast Guard: Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels
Quick facts
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Vessels owners are responsible for maintaining and keeping their vessels in good working order, and properly disposing of the vessel when it reaches the end of its life.
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The Canadian Coast Guard maintains a publicly available national inventory of reported wrecked and abandoned vessels across Canada to better track these vessels and help prioritize which ones should be dealt with first. To date, over 2,000 wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels have been reported.
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Since 2016, under the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has funded almost 500 projects to remove and dispose of wrecked, abandoned, or hazardous vessels across Canada and has made it illegal to abandon a vessel in Canada’s waters.
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Contacts
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca