Who wants to dismantle the Lord Selkirk?

 

RECORD FILE PHOTO BY AUSTIN GRABISH

The MS Lord Selkirk ship continues to rot.

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record 
 

Companies who are interested in removing Selkirk’s greatest eyesore are being asked to make their pitch to the City of Selkirk.

Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson says he’s optimistic the MS Lord Selkirk ship will be removed from the slough it’s been rotting in for the last 25 years.

But neither the federal or provincial government have come on board with the project so there’s a good chance the ship will just continue to rot.

The City recently put out a formal call for proposals and has already received interest from at least four companies who want to take a stab at removing the ship, Johannson said.

The cost to remove the ship is estimated to be somewhere between $700,000 - $900,000, Johannson said.

The City has set aside one third of the better part of $900,000 for the project, but who the rest of the bill will go to is a challenge that lies ahead.

Johansson said he wants the bill split evenly with the province and the feds.

“We’re not going to do this all by ourselves we need help. We know it’s very very important to get this ship out of there. It’s important for the environment, it’s important for the beautification of our park,” Johansson said.

But both have yet to jump on board with the idea. 

Selkirk-Interlake MP James Bezan previously told the Record if the federal government paid for the ship’s removal a dangerous precedent would be set, because there are many other abandoned vessels like the Lord in waters across Canada. 

Selkirk MLA Greg Dewar told the Record last December he would like to have the ship removed by this spring or next year at the latest, but so far no action has been taken, Johannson said. 

The mayor said the request for proposals isn’t a formal tender and the City may not take the lowest bidder. 

“We want it all done right,” Johansson said. 

“We want everything out of there.”

A 60-page document posted on the City’s website gives key information on the project.

Details in the document paint a grim picture of how toxic the ship is and it’s noxious self isn’t just an eyesore – it’s an environmental misfortunate. 

Asbestosis, lead, mould, PCBs, mercury, and several other environmental toxins have all been found to be present on the ship. 

Johannson said the company that’s hired to remove the ship will have to meet a strict environmental criteria. 

“It has to be done the environmentally friendly way of course,” Johansson said. 

“And then finally we can get this rotting hulk out of our slough and out of our city once and for all.”

“I think everyone in Selkirk is sick and tired of driving down Eveline and seeing this ship sitting there rotting so we’re crossing our fingers that we can get something done with it.”

 The request for proposals closes on April 7.

-- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition March 12, 2015 p.6