Boat abandoned at Bluffers Park dock sinking, possibly leaking gas

An abandoned boat that is partially sinking at the Bluffers Park dock is not only an eyesore, but a possible environmental hazard. Dilshad Burman finds out who is responsible for removal and cleanup of the potentially harmful vessel.

By Dilshad Burman

A boat that appears to be abandoned has been tied up at the Bluffers Park public boat launch in Scarborough since last summer. Over the past weekend, it broke free and partially sunk.

Area residents have been trying to bring attention to the issue, including writing a letter to Mayor John Tory, but who is responsible for removing the offending vessel and cleaning up the area has been difficult to determine.

“I phoned every governmental environment agency I could think of,” said Cori Campbell who lives nearby. “Other community members have made calls as well and brought attention to this so that the more noise that can be made about it, maybe the more accountable somebody’s going to be to get it out of there,” she said.

Campbell has lived in the neighbourhood for 57 years and says it wasn’t until recently that she began seeing boats abandoned. She explained that last summer there were four boats tied up at the boat launch and two had people residing on them — one of the residents has since moved away from the area. Aside from the boat that is now partially sunk, two other boats remain — one with a resident on board and another abandoned vessel that free floats in the basin.

Campbell says she is surprised the abandoned boats have not been dealt with for such an extended period of time.

“The authorities can tow cars that are abandoned on your street in front of your house if it’s there for a couple of weeks. How this has sat here since last summer at the very least — it doesn’t make any sense to me,” she said.

When she called the City of Toronto on Sunday, Campbell says she was told her complaint had been noted and that “there is a process that has to take place. Thank you for your call.”

Abandoned boat at Bluffers Park boat launch, Scarborough

An abandoned cabin cruiser-type boat is seen half-submerged at the Bluffers Park boat launch in Scarborough, Ont., on Feb 28, 2022. CITYNEWS/Tony Fera

Who is on the hook?

CityNews reached out to several government agencies about the issue to figure out who is responsible for the removal of the vessel. It’s been determined that Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) are taking the lead on the matter to enforce the Wrecked, Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act.

In a statement to CityNews, Transport Canada explained the protocols to be followed, saying a sunken vessel should first be reported to the CCG.

“[CCG] will complete an assessment of the vessel and if determined that it does not pose a pollution risk or hazard, Transport Canada will be notified,” they said.

Thereafter, when Transport Canada’s Navigation Protection Program (NPP) is notified, they attempt to contact the owner of the vessel. If an owner cannot be found NPP can remove, dispose or sell the boat. If an owner is found, they will be held liable for removal costs.

In this case, CityNews has learned that two Canadian Coast Guard environment assessment officers were sent to the area on Monday.

In a statement to CityNews CCG said: “The Canadian Coast Guard’s Vessels of Concern Program is currently assessing the submerged vessel for potential hazards, including fuel or other chemicals on board, and vessel debris. Once the assessment is complete, it will determine next steps based on their findings.”

Transport Canada confirmed they have been notified of the sunken vessel at Bluffers Park and have tried to contact the owner several times.

“Pending further assessment from the Canadian Coast Guard, NPP may be required to take action to remove the sunken vessel, without locating the owner,” they added in the statement. At this time, it is unclear how long the agency will wait before moving ahead with removal.

Meanwhile, the sunken boat is leaking gasoline which can be potentially perilous to the local wildlife and thousands of birds that call the area home. Campbell says it will get worse the longer it is left unchecked.

“They can determine who it belongs to later. In the meantime, they’ve got to get it out,” she said. “The engine compartment doesn’t appear to be compromised because there’s no oil spilling out of it yet, but that’s only a matter of time in my opinion. Once that engine compartment’s comprised, it’s going be an environmental hazard,” said Campbell.

Local waterfoul near abandoned boat at Bluffers Park, Scarborough

Geese and swans are seen near the Bluffers Park boat launch with an abandoned boat partially submerged in the water in front of them. CITYNEWS/Tony Fera

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority says they own the lands nearby but they are under a management agreement with the City of Toronto, so the city is responsible for them.

“TRCA is always concerned with fuel and oil spills into the environment,” they said in a statement to CityNews. They added that they have also notified the Coastguard, along with the City of Toronto, Parks Forestry and Recreation and the provincial Spills Action Centre.

“TRCA will work closely with its federal, provincial and municipal partners to facilitate the removal of the vessel and to help with the mitigation of any further environmental damage. TRCA will monitor the local wildlife closely and take any mitigative action necessary to protect the local wildlife populations, including waterfowl, by working with our federal and provincial partners and the Toronto Wildlife Centre,” the statement read.

For now, Campbell and other residents have managed to tie the boat to the shore to ensure it doesn’t float further away, but she reiterates that the situation is urgent.

“It’s disturbing to say the least that it’s been abandoned here. Other than being an eyesore to residents, this has the potential to do a lot of damage,” she said.

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