Abandoned Boats Program - Assessment and Removals (A&R) component

• Reimbursement of up to 100% of total eligible costs for assessment and removal/disposal of boats.
• Maximum grant per boat assessment is $5,000.
• Maximum grant per boat removal and disposal is $50,000.
• Bundling of multiple boats in a single application is permitted, with a maximum total project funding of $250,000.
• Funding amounts may be increased in extraordinary circumstances, subject to availability and approval by Transport Canada.

• The applicant must be a province, territory, municipality, local government, Indigenous group or organization, private port or marina (excluding federally owned small craft harbours), Canadian Port Authority, for-profit organization, or not-for-profit organization.
• The applicant must obtain authorization from the Navigation Protection Program (NPP) to assess or remove the boat(s).
• The applicant must demonstrate that the boat appears to be abandoned and/or wrecked in Canadian waters.
• The application must provide supporting documentation to confirm legal status as an entity (e.g., certificate of incorporation, letters of patent).

Who is eligible?

• Provinces, territories, and municipalities
• Local governments
• Indigenous groups, communities, and organizations
• Private ports or marinas
• Canadian Port Authorities
• For-profit and not-for-profit organizations

Who is not eligible

• Companies seeking to remove abandoned or wrecked boats located in federally owned small craft harbours (these are not eligible; such cases should contact the Department of Fisheries and Oceans).
• Organizations proposing the removal of military boats.
• Organizations proposing the removal of heritage boats.
• Companies involved with boats that are currently part of a legal dispute with a private or public party.

Eligible expenses

• Staff salaries and benefits related to assessment and removal activities.
• Professional services, including accounting, consulting, audit, and labour costs.
• Costs associated with the assessment and removal of abandoned or wrecked boats, including environmental and heritage assessments.
• Purchase or lease of assets, technology, equipment, systems, and supplies required for the project.
• Facility costs such as room rentals and storage fees for boats (up to 3 months or as agreed upon with Transport Canada).
• Translation expenses.
• Administrative costs up to 15% of total project expenses (e.g., general administration, rent, insurance, office equipment rental, membership fees).
• Travel and accommodation costs necessary for the project (including vehicle rental, fuel, meals, and incidentals, subject to federal travel rates).
• Other direct, reasonable, and incremental costs essential to the project, approved in writing prior to being incurred.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations located in Canada, including all provinces and territories, are eligible provided their activities pertain to Canadian waters.

• Priority may be given to applications involving boats that pose greater risks to human health and safety, the marine environment, and marine organisms.
• Priority may be given to applications submitted by provincial/territorial governments for boats located in or on provincially/territorially-owned water beds.
• Priority may be given to applications submitted by Indigenous organizations.
• Priority may be given to applications including multiple boats.
• Consideration may be given to the length of time the boat has been abandoned, the risk of the boat sinking, regional balance, and the applicant's ability to leverage funding from non-federal sources and minimize federal funding share.

• One funding application covers both assessment and removal activities for abandoned boats.
• Reports confirming the use of funds as intended must be submitted within 30 days of completing activities.
• Storage costs for removed boats may be eligible only for up to 3 months, unless otherwise agreed with Transport Canada.
• Applications involving multiple boats can use an Excel spreadsheet to detail each vessel.