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Receiver of Wreck

The Receiver of Wreck (Receiver) is an officer of Transport Canada, appointed under the Canada Shipping Act 2001, to act as a custodian of wreck in the absence of the rightful owner.

Wreck can be:

a vessel of any description or an aircraft
a part of a vessel or aircraft
any part of a vessel or aircraft that fl oats, sinks to the bottom or lands ashore
the cargo or the personal belongings of the crew or shipwrecked persons.

The Receiver will try to locate the owner. If no owner is located, the Receiver
may dispose of the wreck.

Who can salvage wreck?

A salvor may be a person, a company, the owner of wreck or the owner’s representative, or municipal, provincial, territorial or federal agencies.

What must I do as a salvor when I discover wreck?

The salvor, unless acting on behalf of the owner of wreck, must report the discovery
to the Receiver and complete a Notice to Salvors of Wreck form.

As a salvor can I keep any wreck that I discover?

No, unless you are the owner. A ship that sinks or goes aground, or cargo
that is lost over the side is still the property of the shipper, the company
to which a vessel is registered or an insurance company.

Would I be compensated for any salvage costs incurred?

Yes. Salvors are entitled to reasonable salvage costs and expenses
for their efforts.

What is most frequently salvaged in Canada?

Modern day wreck
Old commercial ships
Pleasure boats
Parts of cargo of ships or boats
Aircraft

What should a salvor not salvage and why?

Military wreck. In most cases, neither the Canadian nor foreign governments will allow salvors to salvage military wreck because of danger associated with unexploded ammunition.
Wreck that consists of or contains goods of a dangerous nature (polychlorinated biphenyls [PCB] or other chemical products).
Wreck of known historic or archaeological value should not be disturbed.

Will the Receiver help me protect my discovery from other salvors?

The Receiver is not responsible for protecting the wreck site.

What are the consequences if I do not report wreck to the Receiver?

The deliberate failure to report wreck to the Receiver is considered to be an offence. The person committing an offence is liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.