Bailiff’s padlock could be the future for Kelowna’s Fintry Queen

KELOWNA – It’s back to square one in the legal dispute between the City of Kelowna and the owners of the Fintry Queen, a former dinner cruise ship now moored in Kelowna’s Sutherland Bay.

Property manager Mike Olson says the city is still trying to take back its waterlot currently occupied by the 155-foot long ship.

“That’s still what we want,” he adds, but says a decision by a judge tomorrow morning could put the 550-tonne ship into the hands of a balliff for non-payment of about $7,500 in moorage fees.

Fintry Queen’s owners have been searching desperately for the last few weeks up and down Okanagan Lake, trying to secure moorage for the converted car ferry, which for years plied the waters off Kelowna as a tourist attraction.

It’s the biggest vessel on Okanagan Lake and has moorage requirements well beyond that of your average lake vessel.

Olson says the city was willing to show patience if partners Andy Scwab and Bill Hockley had made progress with plans to move the ship but those plans seem to have stalled.

“As I said, it’s back to the beginning and I’m not sure what to expect,” Olson adds.

Schwab and Hockley have been trying for two years to ressurect the Fintry Queen but have failed to generate the interest needed from investors and possible customers.

Find past stories on the Fintry Queen here.

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