The City of Selkirk and the province of Manitoba are teaming up to decommission the MS Lord Selkirk II cruise ship.
Together, they are spending $400,000 to dismantle and salvage the abandoned ship, an investment announced Friday.
The mayor of Selkirk, Larry Johannson, said the ship was majestic in its day but now the MS Lord Selkirk is unsafe and an eyesore.
Those who live nearby say it's not just a victory for Selkirk, but for all of Manitoba because the slough the ship is in feeds into Lake Winnipeg and other waterways.
Sasksteel is the company hired to take the ship apart. The company's owner said there is a strict plan in place to make sure no harm is done to the environment as they take it apart.
He said it'll be treated like the whole thing is covered in asbestos.
There is no set date for the start of the removal, but once crews begin it's expected to take 10 to 12 weeks. The steel will be taken to the mill in Selkirk.
The goal is to have the ship gone before winter, and the city has plans to beautify the area afterwards.
