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2012 Feb 03

Tamil migrant boat MV Ocean Lady sold at steep discount

The rusty cargo ship that carried Tamil asylum seekers to B.C. shores in 2009 has finally been sold.

On Wednesday, Federal Court approved the sale of the MV Ocean Lady to a buyer from Kitimat, B.C., for far less than its appraised value.

"The ship was sold, as is, where is, for the price of $35,000," said Canada Border Services Agency spokeswoman Renee Ribout.

Court documents say the 56-metre vessel was valued at about $500,000.

It was seized in the waters off Vancouver Island in Oct. 2009 with 76 Tamil migrants aboard.

Since then, the Ocean Lady had languished in a berth off Annacis Island, south of Vancouver, as the federal government tried to track down its owners.

As no one has stepped up to claim possession of the ship, the CBSA was granted court permission last summer to sell the Ocean Lady in order to recoup costs associated with the towing and storage of the vessel.

To date, the vessel has cost taxpayers about $363,000, including $169,000 in berthage costs, said Ribout.

Court records also show the agent hired to sell the ship was paid $10,000 plus fees.

Source: theprovince.com

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