City one step closer to removing rotting ship

The clouds on a sunny day may make the MS Lord Selkirk II look not so bad, but Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson says the ship has to go, and soon. Johannson said the ship could be removed this summer if the province chips in $250,000 in funding for the vessel’s decommissioning. 

By Austin Grabish,  The Selkirk Record

The City of Selkirk says it's one step closer to having the rotting MS Lord Selkirk II removed from the city’s slough for good.

It awarded tender for the ship’s removal last month, but still faces a major funding hurdle though Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson hints a special announcement could be coming soon. 

Johannson said crews could start cutting the ship up as early as July.

“It will be as soon as we have all our ducks in a row and we’re getting close,” Johannson said.

“It’s going to be a major event.”

The city has set aside roughly half of the estimated $500,000 cleanup cost, and is banking on the province to fund the remainder.  

“We’re waiting on a little help,” Johannson said, noting he has had discussions with Finance Minister Greg Dewar about the ship’s removal.

A provincial spokesperson confirmed the province has been working with the city on the issue, and also hinted an announcement regarding the ship could be coming soon.  

“The province is aware of the situation and has had productive discussions with the City of Selkirk. A positive outcome that will address this safety issue is anticipated, and more details should be available in the near future,” read an email from the spokesperson.

“It’s just been awful there,” Johannson said.

The MS Lord Selkirk II has been in the Selkirk Slough since 1990, but this isn’t the first time the city’s tried to remove the ship.

Johannson has been relentless in pushing for the ship’s removal in recent years.

In an interview last week, he admitted the boat wasn’t on his list of priorities when he came into office two terms ago, but said that changed after vandals set in on fire in 2012 leaving an even greater eyesore for nearby residents.  

In 2012, the city hired Global Scrap Solutions to remove the vessel, but the company faced bureaucratic hurdles and the boat stayed rotting.

Then last year, the coast guard was brought in to pump out dangerous liquids on the ship after a sweeping toxicologist report revealed the ship had been leaking a long list of contaminants including arsenic.

When asked what the city would do if the province doesn’t come through with funding Johannson said:  

“I got a plan b but I’m hoping I don’t have to open that envelope.”

“We’re getting close. I don’t want to jinx anything because this has been 26 years in the making.”

“The administration has worked very hard on this,” he said.

 -- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition June 25 2015 p. 15