Fears the SS Keewatin might not be long for Port McNicoll heightened Wednesday after the ship’s owner installed fencing around the ship and asked for its keys back.
“In my judgment, there is no justification for this behaviour, and it makes no sense, either,” Friends of Keewatin marketing and communications manager Wayne Coombes said, referring to the ship's owner, Skyline Investments.
"Friends of Keewatin has been working toward what we understood was a shared goal with Skyline Investments since the ship’s return in 2012: Restore SS Keewatin and secure her longevity as a museum in the village she and her four sisters worked from for 53 years," he added.
But Rob Waxman, chief financial officer for Skyline Investments, said the moves are based on Skyline’s decision in March not to open the ship for 2020 due to COVID-19.
“The fence is just precautionary security to protect our asset while it is closed,” Waxman said.
But Coombes believes there might be more at play.
“Now, for no apparent reason, volunteers are denied access to the ship to perform necessary maintenance for the ship and donated artifacts, access business information and resale merchandise or recover personal property,” he said, noting outside work that was to start this week was ordered halted with the contractor standing down and the materials off-loaded from the ship.
Earlier this month, the property that Skyline once held for development surrounding the Keewatin was sold to a Chinese firm under a power of sale. The ship was not part of the deal, which closes Aug. 17.
“Friends of Keewatin understands (new owner) China Paula’s intentions relative to SS Keewatin are similar to what (previous owner) CIM’s were,” Coombes said at the time. “In brief, they see the presence of our historical attraction as beneficial to their planned development, and are supportive.”
But Coombes said there are now renewed concerns the ship might now be leaving with one possible suitor, Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, topping the list.
“It heightens my concern that there are ulterior motives and intentions,” he said. “I can tell you that the new owner of the property fully expected SS Keewatin to be here, especially since they inherited a lease for water rights for the ship Friends of Keewatin entered into with CIM, and they’ve told us they want the ship here.”
Coombes said the company has also told the Friends’ group it is prepared to cover the ship’s operating costs until “we are able to run a normal season and will stand as our guarantor against operating cost overruns” to the tune of $100,000 for 10 years.
“Financial stability is one requirement for achieving Category 'B' designation and negotiating a tax receipt in return for the donation of the ship to a museum,” Coombes said, referring to the federal government's Canadian heritage designation.
Skyline spent "around $1 million" to bring the ship back to Port McNicoll in 2012.
With an estimated value of close to $48.7 million, the ship is considered one of the finest historic vessels anywhere on the planet and “the world’s last Edwardian passenger steamship, a remarkable working demonstration of the first half of the 20th century, and contributor and link to the cementing of Confederation," said Coombes, whose group is also urging Tay Township to get actively involved in keeping the ship in its home port before it’s too late.
Built in Scotland, the vessel was launched on July 6, 1907, five years before the Titanic.
It was retired in 1966 after spending almost 60 seasons transporting passengers on the Great Lakes.
