Winnipeg's MS River Rouge up for sale

After some challenging summers on the water, Winnipeg's MS River Rouge is for sale, but the owner saidhe's willing to keep operating for another year if he doesn't find a buyer.

Owner and president of River Rouge Cruise Line,Kyriakos Vogiatzakisislooking for someone to take over the reins so he can focus on other projects.

"It's been a long 10years," 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.Vogiatzakistook over the business almost 10 years ago and hesaidhigh water levels on the Red River havebeen 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 Rougehasn't been operating since 2014 and is currently sitting in the Selkirk slough.

Vogiatzakis saidthe Alexander Docks werecondemned by the city in 2015 so he couldn't get the ship into Winnipeg plushigh water this year is preventing his ship fromfitting under bridges.

CBC Archives: MS River Rouge cruises the Red River, June 30, 1988

8 years ago

Duration 1:41

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.

"In a lot of cases we only operated a couple of monthsduringthe 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 generationsto enjoy for years to comebecause ultimately what would a river city be without a river boat?"

According to his business websitethe MS River Rouge is Canada's largest river cruise ship, and itcan accommodate up to 400 passengers.

"If the ship doesn't sell I'm obviously very passionate about this boat soI 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 CanadaRiverwalkDock at the Forks downtown.

His asking price is $1.5 million and Vogiatzakissaid he'swilling to negotiate with a serious buyer.

Vogiatzakis previously listed the ship for sale in 2010 because he was "frustrated" with the provinceovertheclosingof the gates at the St.Andrews Lock after the ship ran aground with69 passengers on board.

He said at the time the only way to help free the vesselwas by closing the gatesat the St. Andrews Lock which wouldraisethe river level upstream to float the ship.

The federal government eventually stepped in and allowed the river levels to be raised.

• Government budges on River Rouge rescue

But Vogiatzakissaid 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."

• Dismantling of MS Lord Selkirk II nearly complete

Last year the MS Lord Selkirk was demolished after sitting in the Selkirkslough for many years.That ship wasabandoned intheearly1990s.

Last year, the historic Paddlewheel Princess Riverboat in Winnipeg was listed for sale by ownerSteve Hawchuckwho hadowned it for thepast 48 years. It was previously listed in 2013 but never sold.

• Need a boat? Paddlewheel Princess riverboat for sale again