derelict catamaran

set adrift during a storm, stranded and brought on shore this week

Brian Thacker, who owns Pacific Industrial & Marine that specializes in all aspects of marine and bridge construction, said his crews have rescued approximately 20 such vessels from Cowichan Bay over the last two years.

"So we end up dealing with many of these boats and nobody covers our costs,” he said.

Thacker said there are no penalties in place to hold boat owners accountable for their vessels.

“Anybody can put any kind of vessel out there and just walk away,” he said. (Cowichan Valley Citizen)