An Act to amend the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (national strategy respecting abandoned vessels)

Bill C-344 was a Conservative Private Member's Bill amending the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (S.C. 2019, c. 1) to expand the federal-Canadian Coast Guard authority over abandoned vessels in Canadian waters. The 2019 Act (in force July 30, 2019) replaced the previous Receiver of Wreck framework under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard removed approximately 850 abandoned vessels between 2019 and 2024 under the Oceans Protection Plan (announced 2016 at $1.5 billion over five years, renewed at $2 billion 2022-2027). The bill would have added stronger federal cost-recovery authority over vessel-owner identification, mandatory polluter-pay vessel-disposal liability, and an Abandoned Vessels Federal Registry under section 32 of the Act.