HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says the province had to take possession of the Bluenose II from the ship's builder despite a recently released report outlining dozens of outstanding problems with the vessel.
He says the company responsible for restoring the historic boat had satisfied the requirements outlined in its contract, which required the province to take possession of the ship on July 30.
McNeil says he is confident the Bluenose will sail by the end of 2014, but adds people in the province should feel frustrated by the delays and cost overruns.
At the project's outset in 2009, the provincial government estimated the work would cost $14.4 million but that had risen to $19 million as of June.
The province's auditor general is conducting a review of the restoration.
The Bluenose II, launched in 1963, is a replica of the original Bluenose, a Grand Banks fishing schooner that earned worldwide acclaim for its graceful lines and speed.
