M/V Kathryn Spirit

The Canadian Coast Guard is announcing the first phase of plans to permanently remove the Kathryn Spirit vessel from the shores of Beauharnois

Background

The M/V Kathryn Spirit was built in 1967. The vessel had been in operation as a merchant vessel for many years. The vessel was bought by Excavation René Saint-Pierre Inc., and towed on September 8, 2011 to its current location in Beauharnois, in the Montérégie region, to the Excavation René St-Pierre Inc. facilities in order to be dismantled on site.

Failure to obtain, among others, an authorization certificate from the Province of Quebec, Groupe Saint-Pierre was not able to follow through on their plans and the vessel was sold to the Mexican company Reciclajes Ecológicos Marítimos in order to be dismantled abroad. With the inability to obtain all required authorizations, the removal of the M/V Kathryn Spirit from Beauharnois never took place and the vessel was abandoned by its owner at the end of 2015.

Chronology of Highlights for the M/V Kathryn Spirit

The Coast Guard has continued to monitor the vessel, and mitigate any significant risks, with its partners . In June 2016, the vessel's angle of list had increased and the Canadian Coast Guard had to intervene multiple times, including the addition of moorings and by awarding a contract to the company Sauvetage Maritime Océan Inc., with the objective to further secure the M/V Kathryn Spirit.

On November 9, 2016, the Canadian Coast Guard, as the lead agency for marine responses, was awarded a contract to build an embankment in order to isolate the vessel from the shores during the winter. The contract has been awarded to Groupe Saint-Pierre Inc.

On November 10, 2016, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport,  announced, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the first phase of plans to permanently remove the M/V Kathryn Spirit from the shores of Beauharnois.

Communications Contact:

Michel Plamondon, Senior Communications Advisor

Program Contact:

Julie Gascon, Assistant Commissioner, Central and Arctic Region
Canadian Coast Guard