Number of boats run aground in Vancouver's False Creek after windstorm

Officials say around a dozen boats ran aground in Vancouver after a windstorm on Monday, with the coast guard and police tasked with cleanup.

The Vancouver Park Board said in a Tuesday statement that around a dozen vessels were pushed onto beaches as a fierce storm led to winds of up to 70 km/h at Vancouver International Airport and left hundreds of thousands without power in the Lower Mainland.

In a statement, the Canadian Coast Guard said three vessels were reported to have run aground in the False Creek/Sunset Beach area and five in the Kitsilano area. No pollution was observed due to the grounded boats.

"Under Canadian law, vessel owners are responsible for their vessel at all times," a Canadian Coast Guard spokesperson said in a statement. "If their vessel is damaged during a storm, owners must take all actions necessary, including repairs, salvage, and prevention or cleanup of leaking fuel and oil."

Jeremy Brandlmayr from False Creek Ferries says the grounded boats could be due to owners who may not have wanted to spend hundreds of dollars a month on mooring fees at private marinas.

"So they'll leave it out there anchored and then if they don't have the proper tackle, proper gear out, then they'll just drag ashore if they're not careful," he said.

A spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department said the first response to a grounded vessel would come from the coast guard, which assesses whether the boats are putting pollutants into the water.

"The [coast guard] then pass it on to Transport Canada's 'Wrecked and Abandoned Vessel' section who are ultimately responsible for contracting the removal and destruction of the sunken vessel," said Const. Tania Visintin.

"This all takes a minimum of 30 days as the owner of the vessel must be given a reasonable amount of time to deal with the vessel prior to [Transport Canada] taking over."

Concerns over derelict boats

Visintin said there have been longstanding concerns with derelict boats in False Creek where it is free to anchor a boat for much of the year.

"The maximum allowable time to be anchored in False Creek is 14 out of 30 days during the summer, and 21 out of 40 days in winter," Visintin said. "Although permits are free and available online, or from Heather Civic Marina, many boaters fail to obtain permits at all."

Brandlmayr said there are consequences that arise if a boat is left grounded for too long.

"People come around and will cut off the metal bits, or the wire bits, so they could sell or repurpose, perhaps," he said.

"The longer these boats will stay here, the more of the valuable items will be taken from the boats, just leaving the fibreglass hull, which is worthless."

The ferry operator added that Vancouver is an expensive place to live, which is why many people could be living on their boats, and potentially not have the money to afford proper mooring gear.

Visintin said the number of boats in False Creek had increased dramatically throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and that police and support workers collaborate with the city to offer those living in their boats alternative living arrangements.