Winnipeg's MS River Rouge up for sale
Owner of MS River Rouge in Winnipeg is selling his ship for $1.5 million
After some challenging summers on the water, Winnipeg's MS River Rouge is for sale, but the owner said he's willing to keep operating for another year if he doesn't find a buyer.
Owner and president of River Rouge Cruise Line, Kyriakos Vogiatzakis is looking for someone to take over the reins so he can focus on other projects.
"It's been a long 10 years," he said.
"It's been filled with trials and tribulations, but at the same time it's been rewarding in a lot of ways to know that I've kept the legacy of the ship alive."
The MS River Rouge ship was launched in 1966. Vogiatzakis took over the business almost 10 years ago and he said high water levels on the Red River have been his biggest problem since then.
"Business has actually not been the problem," Vogiatzakis said.
"To bring the ship in Winnipeg during flooding and not being able to honour these chartered bookings and public events was ultimately the problem...but the business was always there." he said.
The MS River Rouge hasn't been operating since 2014 and is currently sitting in the Selkirk slough.
"In a lot of cases we only operated a couple of months during the course of the whole summer, so it's been very challenging. The Forks has been under water all summer, again."
Vogiatzakis said he's still passionate about the business and hopes a new owner can keep it going.
"I'm passionate about keeping it alive to Winnipeggers and future generations to enjoy for years to come because ultimately what would a river city be without a river boat?"
According to his business website the MS River Rouge is Canada's largest river cruise ship, and it can accommodate up to 400 passengers.
"If the ship doesn't sell I'm obviously very passionate about this boat so I will continue to operate it next year if nobody comes to the forefront." he said.
Vogiatzakis said if he can't sell it this year he's willing to operate it next year at the Parks Canada Riverwalk Dock at the Forks downtown.
His asking price is $1.5 million and Vogiatzakis said he's willing to negotiate with a serious buyer.
Vogiatzakis previously listed the ship for sale in 2010 because he was "frustrated" with the province over the closing of the gates at the St.Andrews Lock after the ship ran aground with 69 passengers on board.
He said at the time the only way to help free the vessel was by closing the gates at the St. Andrews Lock which would raise the river level upstream to float the ship.
The federal government eventually stepped in and allowed the river levels to be raised.
But Vogiatzakis said he never intended to sell the ship back in 2010.
"I was very frustrated with the political side of things and I was just looking for support and I wasn't getting it."
"I just don't want to see it end up like the Lord Selkirk."
Last year the MS Lord Selkirk was demolished after sitting in the Selkirk slough for many years. That ship was abandoned in the early 1990s.
Last year, the historic Paddlewheel Princess Riverboat in Winnipeg was listed for sale by owner Steve Hawchuck who had owned it for the past 48 years. It was previously listed in 2013 but never sold.