Kings Endeavor owner Tracy Dodds faces bill over derelict boat

The Canadian Coast Guard has taken environmental action against a second derelict vessel owned by Wolfville, N.S., scrap dealer Tracy Dodds.

The former fishing vessel Kings Endeavour has been tied up at the Falls Point Wharf in Woods Harbour since late November, where it's accumulated around $10,000 in wharfage and towing fees.

"The status is the same as it's been from day one — no co-operation whatsoever," said Vesta Adams, the harbour supervisor with the Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour.

Adams said the ship was slowly taking on water and there was concern it could contaminate nearby lobster pounds and storage tanks.

"If it did leak any petroleum products, any diesel, especially base oil or anything like that, it could pollute the dock. And if lobsters were being held, it could stop the sale of them."

Dodds is under a court-imposed deadline to remove another derelict ship, Farley Mowat, from Shelburne Harbour by April 8.

The Canadian Coast Guard refloated and cleaned Farley Mowat after the vessel sank at wharfside last summer.

A coast guard inspection on March 31 confirmed the state of the Kings Endeavor.

"There was a significant amount of water in the bilge and we determined that we needed to remove all the pollutants from the vessel to prevent it from being a pollution hazard if it did sink at the dock," said Canadian Coast Guard senior response officer Keith Laidlaw.

Laidlaw said Dodds was given notice April 1 under the Canadian Shipping Act to secure his vessel.

On April 4, the coast guard removed 2,500 litres of dirty bilge water, 900 litres of fuel, and 100 litres of other lubrication oils from King's Endeavour.

"We will be sending the bill to the owner," said Laidlaw.

Adams said Kings Endeavour now poses less of a risk.

"It could be considered a risk if it breaks away from where it's at, with no one tending it," she said. "It could go into the other boats and cause damage."

Adams has just one wish: "I'd like for the owner to come pick up his boat."

CBC News contacted Dodds on Tuesday, but he declined to comment.