Sailboat still sitting at bottom of St. John River, two months after removal deadline

With boating season in full swing, it's high time to remove a sunken sailboat from the St. John River, says one Greenwich resident.

"It's beyond time,"saidRob Thom, calling it amarine hazard.

"Stop using it as a re-election tactic and publicity stunt. Get it out."

The owner has had more than enough time to remove the boat, he said.

WATCH | 'Some governing body should step up':

How long can you leave your boat at the bottom of a river? Months, apparently

2 months ago

Duration 0:55

Transport Canada gave the owner of the Not a Starship until the end of April to remove the boat from the bottom of the St. John River. More than two months have passed, and the boat hasn't budged.

"Some governing body should step up and make sure it happens," said Thom on Thursday.

Until that happens, hesaid, the vessel will continue to present a danger to other boaters.

The visibility of the two masts which are all that remainabove the water's surface is highly dependent on lighting conditions, he said. On some dayseven those who know the boat is there have trouble spotting the masts, he said.

"And of course nothing is [visible] at night," he said.

Residents on both sides of the St. John River have been watching the sailboat since last fall. As winter approached, many wondered why the double-masted vessel remained moored inthe water.

By January, ice had formed around the boat. Butits owner, Jordan Tatton,dismissed concerns about the ice, sayinghe was confident the sturdy vessel could survive the winter.

On Feb. 13, Thom noticed the boat slowly starting to sink into the ice. Before long, with an early breakup of the ice, it was sitting on the bottom.

Transport Canada gave Tatton until April 30 to remove it.

When that deadline came and went andwith the owner making some attempts to lift the boat Transport Canada said it "remains engaged with the owner to ensure the removal of the vessel."

On May 1,officers "assessed" the boat "and confirmed the owner has taken initial steps to remove the vessel with the installation of lift bags."

When asked for an update earlier this week, a spokesperson for Transport Canada said they had been informed that the Canadian Coast Guard plans "to address the Not a Starship as a hazard under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act.

"Transport Canada will continue to collaborate with the Canadian Coast Guard and provide any expertise, guidance, or information needed as it works to have the vessel removed," Katherine Proulxsaid in theemailed statement.

She referred all other requests to the Canadian Coast Guard, whichhasn't yet provided a requested update to CBCNews.

Tattondid not respond to repeated interview requests.