August 20 - Local Canadian media reports indicate that a Dockwise semi-submersible heavy lift ship will help draw a line under a political scandal in British Columbia.
Dockwise Swift is due to load the first of three 1,500 tonne passenger ferry catamarans that shipwrecked the political hopes of the province's premier who commissioned the projects: during building, the ships' construction costs more than doubled from an initial CAD210 million to an eventual cost of CAD450 million.
They contributed to the collapse of the then-premier's political career and the dashing of successor's hopes for election and were eventually disposed of for just CAD20 million.
The three ships have been purchased by Abu Dhabi Mar, a UAE company that builds and refurbishes ships and yachts. The 32,600 dwt Swift is scheduled to take four hours to load the first catamaran. The remaining two ferries will be sent to Abu Dhabi in the autumn aboard the Swift and a sister vessel.
