THE wreck of the Solway Harvester will remain in Douglas harbour until legal proceedings over the deaths of seven crewmen are eventually resolved.

Tynwald was told this morning that the rusting 70ft scallop dredger cannot be moved because it is no longer seaworthy and because protracted legal proceedings by the crew members’ families are still ongoing.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne said that his department made a commitment to the families of the crew that the Isle of Man government would not dispose of the Solway Harvester until the vessel was not required for any future legal proceedings.

“Legal action is still being pursued by the families,” he said. “Relocation would be too costly; it had been considered that it could be moved to a port in the UK, but we believe it is unlikely to be accepted because of its condition and the costs would also be very high.”

He said that it was impossible to give a timescale for when the vessel might be removed because of ongoing legal matters. He also said that the department had written to the families asking about when legal matters were likely to conclude, but he was conscious that he did not want to place additional pressure on those who had lost family in the tragedy.

Peter Karran MHK said that the vessel had become an “eyesore” - a view which Mr Gawne accepted. “Many of us see the Solway Harvester every day. It is an upsetting right but I believe we are doing the right thing by way of the families.”