From what I’ve read, 150 years ago there were so many derelict ships floating on the ocean, and being a danger to other ships, that crews were sent out to dynamite them whenever they found them.
Correct. The U.S. Navy Hydrologic service was in charge of keeping track of them, and there were THOUSANDS of drifting and derelict hulks floating around the. North Atlantic.
Whenever a derelict was located, it was declared a `menace to navigation’ & dispatched to Davy Jones. If the Navy participated in rescuing passengers/crew from a burning ship at sea, they made sure it was sent to the bottom as the final act.
If collision with that Russian hulk results in loss of life, the Canadian government will be sued to a fare thee well.