SAULT STE. MARIE—At the recommendation of town staff, which was reviewed by Sault Ste. Marie city council at a meeting last week, the M.S. Norgoma is going to be decommissioned for $395,000.
“The proposal for decommissioning was approved,” stated Tom Vair, Deputy CAO for Community Development and Enterprise Service for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, after a council meeting December 18. “There really weren’t any questions (posed by council to the recommended proposal). I had provided an overview to council and council was unanimously in favour of decommissioning the Norgoma.”
The report to Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and members of city council from Mr. Vair states, “The purpose of this report is to seek council approval for the decommissioning of the M.S. Norgoma. Numerous reports have been provided to city council in the past regarding the M.S. Norgoma. The vessel is currently owned by the City of Sault Ste. Marie and docked at a slip leased by Purvis Marine at Algoma Steel.”
“City staff have made numerous attempts to find a home for the vessel with many different proponents,” wrote Mr. Vair. “Two agreements for the sale of the vessel were entered into (The Sweet Shop, Tobermory: Jeff Dwor, Port Colborne) but neither proponent was able to conclude the agreement.”
As has been reported previously, The Sweet Shop had indicated it was interested in the vessel, but that agreement was cancelled when the group was unable to secure a berth in the municipal marina. And Mr. Dwor had signed an agreement with the city that he wanted the vessel, but he also backed away from the agreement and owning the vessel.
“Staff have had discussions with a number of other proponents (six) to try and find a home for the vessel since these agreements were terminated but none of the groups expressing interest have been able to move forward,” Mr. Vair told council. “This is largely due to the cost of relocating the vessel, costs of refurbishment, ability to find a suitable location to dock the vessel and the requirements of host municipalities to provide funds in escrow should the vessel need to be decommissioned.”
Mr. Vair noted, “Since the last council report, the news media covered the story of the Norisle, a sister-ship to the Norgoma. The Township of Assiginack council approved a proposal from Marine Recycling Corporation (MRC) to dispose of the S. S. Norisle at a cost of $743,000.”
He explained city staff “had contacted MRC and Purvis Marine to obtain updated quotes for decommissioning the Norgoma. MRC provided a quote of $643,000 (for the relocation and decommissioning) and Purvis Marine has quoted $395,000 with the condition that the city cover the landfill fees associated with disposal of non-ferrous materials, including contaminants.”
Mr. Vair said staff also explored the option to scuttle the vessel for a dive site. “In discussions with experts in the field, it was advised that the Norgoma would require extensive environmental work to ensure the vessel is clean of oil and other contaminants. Further, it was indicated the process for approval would take a significant amount of time. It is anticipated significant costs would also be incurred to undertake the environmental work, continue to pay docking and insurance fees while approval is obtained and to make arrangements to tow and scuttle the vessel. For these reasons, this option was not pursued further.”
Mr. Vair stated in his report, “Given the city has been unable to find a credible proponent with the financial capacity to follow through with relocating the Norgoma, staff are recommending the Purvis Marine offer to decommission the vessel be accepted.” Staff estimated the cost of accepting the non-ferrous materials at the landfill is approximately $5,000-$8,000. The cost provided by Purvis Marine, while a significant sum of money, is well below the cost charged to the Township of Assiginack.
“City staff made significant effort to find a new home for the vessel in an attempt to avoid the costs of decommissioning,” continued Mr. Vair. “The probability for a viable solution appears to be very low at this point and it is not recommended to incur further expenses for insurance and docking fees.”
The 185-foot long Norgoma, which had served as a means of transportation between Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie, and had been a car ferry between Tobermory and South Baymouth, had been acquired by Sault Ste. Marie in 1975. They had provided it to the St. Mary’s River Marine Heritage Centre in 1981 to continue to operate it as a museum ship and tourism attraction. However, it struggled to maintain its viability.
The vessel was reconveyed to the city and options to sell it had been looked at.
“The Norgoma has been docked at Purvis Marine, just west of Algoma Steel for several years, at the cost of $40 per day,” Mr. Vair told the Expositor.
Mr. Vair explained, “In March, the ship vessel will be transferred over to Purvis. Currently the city has been paying the docking and insurance costs and the vessel has been deteriorating.” He said, “I think with everything that Assiginack Township went through decommissioning the Norisle, I think it threw off a lot of proponents.”
“The Norgoma will be staying put. It will get cut up right where it is by Purvis. The decommissioning will take place right where the ship is located.”
