Salvor Information
1. What is wreck?
Wreck can be a vessel of any description, an aircraft, or a part of
a vessel or aircraft (e.g., cargo, stores, tackle); it can be any part
of a vessel or aircraft that floats, sinks to the bottom or lands ashore;
it can be cargo or the personal belongings of the crew or those of shipwrecked
persons. 
2. What is a Receiver of Wreck?
A Receiver of Wreck is an officer of Transport Canada, designated
under the
Canada
Shipping Act, 2001 to act as a custodian of wreck in the absence of the
rightful owner. The Receiver
of Wreck has a responsibility to attempt to locate the owner. If no owner is located, the Receiver may
dispose of the wreck.
3. Who can salvage wreck?
A salvor may be an individual, a company, the owner of wreck or the owner's
representative, or municipal, provincial, territorial or federal agencies.
4. What must I do as a salvor when I discover
wreck?
The salvor, unless acting on behalf of the owner of wreck, has an obligation
to report the fact to the Receiver of Wreck. The salvor is required to complete
a Notice to Salvors of Wreck form.
5. 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.
6. Would I be compensated for any salvage costs
incurred?
Salvors are entitled to reasonable salvage costs and expenses for their efforts.
Salvage What and Why?
1. What is most frequently salvaged in Canada?
- Modern day wreck
- Old commercial ships
- Pleasure boats
- Parts of cargo of ships or boats
- Aircraft
2. What should a salvor not salvage and why?
- Military wreck. In most cases neither the Canadian nor foreign governments
will grant permission to 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.
Protection of Salvage
1. Will the Receiver of Wreck assist me in
protecting my discovery
from other salvors?
The Receiver is not responsible for protecting the wreck site.
2. What are the consequences if I do not report
wreck to the Receiver?
The deliberate failure to report wreck to the Receiver of Wreck is considered to be
an offence. The person committing the offence is liable to a fine and/or
imprisonment.
Contact Us
1. Where can I obtain additional information?
Receivers of Wreck, Transport Canada in your region or,
Navigable Waters Protection Program
Marine Safety (AMSEG)
Transport Canada
Tower C, Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa ON
K1A 0N8
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