TORONTO, (Nov. 19, 2004) — A former Halifax developer and current president and CEO of Toronto-based trucking and logistics giant Clarke Inc. plans to take a shot at the shipping business after purchasing a 100-metre container ship for $11 million US.

The Shamrock, as its been named, has been tied up in Maine since being seized by U.S. marshals in July. Armoyan says the company will now study how best to use the ship.

“We are going to be in the (shipping) business,” he told the Halifax Daily News. “But then again, if someone makes me an offer I can’t refuse…”

Armoyan said the ship will take Clarke back to its roots. It started out as a shipping line in 1921.

The Shamrock was seized after Fortis Bank of Holland filed a lawsuit claiming the ship’s owner — Copropriete du Navire Shamrock — failed to make payments on a $14.3 million debt. The ship had been operating a service from Halifax to Boston and Portland under charter for SPM Container Line. The line also carried cargo from Halifax to the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Armoyan said he would like to see the service resume, but only if it makes economic sense.

— from the Halifax Daily News