Exposing Illegal Operators: Safeguarding Canada’s Waterways
S.A.B.A. leads Canada’s most trusted initiative against illegal yacht charters through a verified public database that exposes unlicensed operators and unsafe vessels. We support Transport Canada and law with actionable intelligence, track major actions, and advocate for stronger penalties and safety reforms.
Through secure public reporting and active government engagement, we help protect passengers, uphold compliance, and promote safer, more transparent waterways across Canada.
Exposing Illegal Operators
S.A.B.A. operates Canada’s leading public safety initiative addressing illegal yacht charters through our rigorously maintained Illegal Charter Database — a critical resource that empowers passengers to verify operator compliance with Canadian marine safety standards. This transparent system identifies and documents unlicensed operators across Canadian waterways, including non-compliant charter websites advertising without proper certification or marine liability insurance, or commercial licensing under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. By maintaining this database, we provide essential information that upholds marine safety standards and protects both passengers and legitimate marine businesses.
This proactive disclosure system not only protects unsuspecting consumers from unsafe operations lacking proper emergency equipment or trained personnel, but also serves as a valuable tool and industry stakeholders to better prioritize actions against repeat offenders.
Through our integrated reporting platform, which combines community-submitted reports with professional verification protocols, S.A.B.A. has built Canada’s most reliable mechanism for identifying and documenting illegal charter operations. Our multi-stage validation process ensures all published information meets strict evidentiary standards while respecting principles of fairness and due process.
This innovative approach creates a real-time safety network that systematically exposes non-compliant operators and provides actionable information. By maintaining a balance between public participation and professional oversight, our goal is to set new standards for accountability and transparency across Canada’s marine sector.
Enforcement Action Timeline
S.A.B.A. maintains a comprehensive Action Timeline documenting Canada’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal yacht charters, serving as both a deterrent to non-compliant operators and a record of maritime safety achievements. This authoritative resource chronicles major actions taken including investigations of high-risk operators and closures of businesses violating the Canada Shipping Act’s commercial vessel requirements.
The timeline showcases landmark regulatory enhancements aligned with Transport Canada standards, including improved marine inspection protocols, mandatory insurance verification systems, and stricter penalties for repeat offenders. Each entry provides verified case details, legal outcomes, and safety impacts, demonstrating how consistent enforcement and policy advocacy have reduced illegal charter incidents. By documenting these outcomes, we educate the public about the vital importance of choosing only Transport Canada-certified operators for their maritime activities.
Government Communications
S.A.B.A. is not contracted by Transport Canada, the Toronto Police Marine Unit, or any other government body. We act independently, on a voluntary and good-faith basis, to identify risks, document unsafe practices, and provide constructive recommendations. Government agencies are free to accept, ignore, or reject these recommendations at their discretion.
However, where inaction or disregard for credible safety concerns places the public in danger, S.A.B.A. will not remain silent. We will take independent action within our mandate, through public awareness, policy advocacy, and accountability reporting, to ensure that risks are addressed and lives are protected.
Our role is not to replace government regulators, but to hold them to the standard the public deserves: responsive, coordinated, and effective protection of Canada’s waterways
Report an Illegal Charter
S.A.B.A.’s goal is to establish Canada’s most trusted Illegal Charter Reporting System, empowering concerned citizens to play an active role in protecting maritime safety by voluntarily documenting and reporting suspicious activity.
Our confidential digital platform allows witnesses to safely record and submit critical details such as:
- Operator/Vessel Identification: name, registration number, or distinguishing features.
- Incident Particulars: location, date/time, and voyage details.
- Supporting Evidence: photographs of safety risks, screenshots of illegal advertisements, or recordings of unsafe operations.
Each report undergoes careful validation by S.A.B.A.’s maritime safety specialists before being shared with the appropriate public agencies, ensuring that credible concerns are directed to the organizations best positioned to act under applicable regulations.
By maintaining strict evidentiary standards, we have created Canada’s most effective public reporting tool against illegal charters. The system protects the confidentiality of individuals who submit reports and ensures that public contributions are treated with fairness and responsibility.
This program demonstrates how informed citizen participation, combined with professional oversight, strengthens accountability and creates safer waterways for all Canadians.
