The abandoned boat that was beached at Porteau Cove Provincial Park in late June has been removed.
Squamish conservationist John Buchanan, who reported the boat to authorities on June 24, was on site when the boat was removed on July 15th.
The Coast Guard previously told The Squamish Chief the abandoned vessel was first reported to it on June 22.
Transport Canada told The Squamish Chief that the vessel was removed by a contractor hired through the government agency.
“Transport Canada will make every effort to locate and hold the vessel owner responsible for the cost of removal and cleanup,” a spokesperson said.
Buchanan noted that when he first saw it, the pleasure craft had fuel onboard and a refrigerator.
There were also several 6.35 millimetre (.25 inch) holes in a pattern on the hull of the vessel, and its registration had been smudged out.
As the tide came in and battered it, the boat moved and ended up sunk under the public pier by the time it was retrieved, frustrating Buchanan, who stressed that as it was getting battered, it would pollute the marine environment. He also noted that in a provincial park during the busy summer season, the boat was an eyesore and a hazard, particularly when it was beached.
In July of 2019, federal legislation came into force, making it illegal to abandon a boat in Canada.
Previously, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard told The Squamish Chief that under Canadian law, vessel owners are responsible for their watercraft at all times and must take all actions necessary, including repairs, salvage, and prevention or clean-up of leaking fuel and oil.
Transport Canada is a federal government department responsible for developing regulations, policies and services for road, rail, marine and air transportation in Canada.
In 2023, two records of fines were issued to boat owners in British Columbia by Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard.
(For more details, please visit Transport Canada’s Public Record for the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act and the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fines by region,)
Members of the public who see a marine pollution incident or a marine hazard are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Coast Guard at 1-800-565-1633.
**Please note that this story was updated after it was first posted to include information from Transport Canada that came in after the press deadline.
