Hamilton Harbour Queen to retire at the end of September

The Hamilton Harbour Queen, which has ferried more than 100,000 passengers on tours of the citys waterfront since 2005, is entering retirement at the end of this month.

The Hamilton Waterfront Trust cited ebbing ridership, high safety inspection costs and difficulty finding qualified staff in its decision to end the Harbour Queens nine-year run.

Were disappointed, said Werner Plessl, the charitys executive director. Its a little frustrating because weve worked tremendously hard.

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Built in 1958 in Owen Sound and originally named the Johnny B, the Harbour Queen first served as a Hamilton cruise ship in 2005. Since then, it has completed around 1,375 bay tours and transported a total of more than 108,000 passengers, Plessl said.

Financial pressures

At the peak of its success, the service attracted about 14,000 riders per year. However, more recently, Plessl said, that number has dropped to 8,000 per year, putting stress on the Hamilton Waterfront Trusts bottom line.

Even though were a charity, we have to watch closely our resources.Werner Plessl, Hamilton Waterfront Trust

Compounding the financial concerns were government-mandated inspections and repairs that the Harbour Queen was set to undergo before next summer. Putting the boat into dry-dock, sandblasting and painting it and conducting other necessary repairs would cost the waterfront trust around $300,000, Plessl said.

Even though were a charity, we have to watch closely our resources, he said.

Staffing the Harbour Queen had become difficult in recent years, Plessl said. The waterfront trust was having a tough time finding enough qualified sailors to operate the Harbour Queen.

Fewer workers are entering the field, he said, and the Harbour Queen hadtrouble competing for talent because it only offers seasonal work.

A number of boat operators are having the same problem, said Plessl.