Irvin back in berth in June, DECC says

Work on the William A. Irvin should be completed by June 1, and the ship should be back in its berth and open for tours around July 1, according to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
Though a few weeks past the original estimate of a May 15 restoration wrap-up, that timeline could yet see the Irvin back home in time for folks to climb on board to cheer on runners over Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
For now, the ship is waiting in line to get into the dry dock at Fraser Shipyards for the work it needs to stay afloat. The DECC is still working to finalize a contract with Fraser.
Missing May and June won’t be too large of a loss for an attraction that brings in about $225,000 annually (it was closed all of last year). DECC Executive Director Chelly Townsend said July and August are the big draws for out-of-town visitors.
“We’ll still have those good months - we’re trying to be positive about it, but it does hurt us to not have it open right away,” she said.
Restoration on the ship museum is necessary after it spent the past 32 years in the Minnesota Slip. It cost $850,000 in Duluth tourism tax dollars and DECC money to move it last summer.