We may see the end of the Cormorant’s presence in the LaHave after all.
The federal government announced today they awarded a $1.817 million contract to RJ MacIsaac Contruction Ltd of Antigonish for the removal and destruction of the derelict naval vessel.
The company, who specialize in marine construction and demolition, was previously given contracts for the teardown of the HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Algonquin a few years ago in Liverpool.
In a release, Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard says with the $1.817 million contract awarded, “the safe and responsible removal of the Cormorant is finally within our sight.”
The release says both RJ MacIsaac Construction Ltd. and the Canadian Coast Guard will begin to set up personnel and equipment this Fall, in hopes of quickly dismantling and removing the vessel.
However, the release does not give any dates as to when the work will begin, when it is expected to wrap up, or if the ship will need to be relocated before it is torn down.
Looking back at the company’s previous work on the HMCS Protecteur an HMCS Algonquin, they estimated the work would take around two years to complete.
According to the release, those timelines will depend heavily on a number of factors, including the environment and possible hazards on the vessel. It says information on how the work will take place and when will be released as it comes.
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