Overhaul planned for Bluenose II

Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador, the Bluenose II, will sit out the next tourism season while it undergoes a $14-million refit.

Construction work on the schooner is scheduled to begin in the spring.

"We'll be looking at the hull of the vessel to ensure that we replace the decking materials and the hull wood to ensure that's in good shape," said Michael Noonan, spokesman for the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

In addition, Noonan said, the ship's onboard systems will be updated to meet modern safety and environmental standards.

The vessel is a replica of the Bluenose, the famous fishing schooner depicted on the Canadian dime.

The original Bluenose was launched in Lunenburg in March 1921 and won races throughout the 1920s and 1930s. It was sold and eventually wrecked. The Bluenose II, built from designer William James Roue's plans, was launched in 1963. The vessel based in Lunenburg is used for tours and special events.

While there has been talk of a Bluenose III, Noonan said there's no need for a new ship now.

"We're able to work with the existing ship and make the improvements that are necessary without having to go the route of building a completely new vessel," he said.

The refit is expected to be completed by February 2011, in time for the province to qualify for federal infrastructure funding.