Crescent City Harbor District officials have accepted the bid of a local contractor to demolish and recycle what remains of the rusted derelict boat Christie R.Fashion Blacksmith Inc. submitted the winning bid of $60,565 on Oct. 1. Global Diving and Salvage submitted the only other bid, $70,535.The Christie R was part of a vessel buy-back program that paid fishermen to relinquish their permits. After sitting in the harbor’s boat basin for several years, the Christie R was damaged by a March 2011 tsunami.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Having been tied up outside the harbor’s breakwater, it eventually broke loose and grounded ashore.Ted Long’s company, Fashion Blacksmith, was hired to haul the boat to dry dock and make it seaworthy again. However, the Christie R was too damaged to be quickly patched, so Long assumed liability and proceeded to demolish the vessel.Fashion Blacksmith removed about 80% of the ship, leaving only one section containing highly flammable and toxic polyurethane foam. Cutting up that remaining section would require switching from acetylene blow torches to shears, Long said in prior news accounts.He said transporting the remains caused about $24,000 in damage to one of his boat carriages. He estimated his costs of damage and lost revenue at $100,000. Long said he didn’t seek reimbursement from the harbor district at the time due to its own financial shortfalls.Harbormaster Charlie Helms said he and the harbor’s board of directors are happy the vessel’s journey is final reaching a mutually agreeable conclusion.“It’s wonderful the Fashion Blacksmith is able to take derelict boat,” said Helms. “That’s $60,000 of taxpayer money well worth it. (Long) could have sued the district to get it out of there.“He’s been patient about it impacting his business. It’s a big deal and he had the better bid by far,” Helms said. “Fashion Blacksmith can do it and do it right, being safety conscious, and finally get it gone.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });