/ 3 August 2005

For sale: Ice-breaker for a cool million dollars

A Canadian company has put an ice-breaking ship, suitable for navigating icebergs and the often frozen waters of the Arctic, up for sale for a cool one million dollars.

The sale of the unusual vessel by the Newfoundland-based Burry group will be conducted on the internet auction site Ebay.

Bidding for the 73m Polar Prince, built in the 1959 for the Canadian coast guard, is set to start at one million dollars.

The family-owned company bought the icebreaker from the Canadian government in 2002, but failed to find a buyer through traditional markets.

The Polar Prince is well maintained and ready for use with a helicopter landing pad and storage hangar, according to its Ebay listing.

It would be ”ideal for casino, conversion, arctic/antarctic research, polar cruises, or oil exploration in ice infested waters,” the listing suggests.

Company director Dan Burry said he has been contacted by two interested parties.

”We have two clients interested: one from Asia and another from western Canada,” said Burry. – Sapa-AFP