PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(3 December 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which authority is responsible for the recovery and disposal of boats that have sunk or are stranded near the shoreline when they do not present a navigation hazard.

Asked by:
Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour)

In the case of sunk or stranded vessels, the owner of that vessel is responsible for carrying out any actions required to mitigate environmental consequences under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. This may be carried out in conjunction with an insurance company.

Sunk vessels that are not hazards to navigation may be assessed for their potential environmental impact by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Intervention and Salvage (SOSREP).

Where vessels are stranded near the shoreline, the responsibility for the removal of the vessel still sits with the owner. In some cases, it is not possible to trace an owner for stranded vessels on the shoreline. In these cases, the responsibility for remediation may fall to the landowner. The landowner may choose to instigate legal action against the vessel's owner where possible. Regulations such as the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (England and Wales) may apply. In such cases, the vessel could also be salvaged voluntarily, by any person, to prevent further damage and in return for a salvage fee from the owner, or insurer.

Answered by:
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1 January 1970