MV Farley Mowat owner Tracy Dodds found in contempt of court

The owner of MVFarleyMowat has been found in contempt of court, but has one final chance to avoid $10,000 in penalties and 20 days in jail.

Tracy Dodds's derelict vesselhas been languishing wharfside in Shelburne since the fall of 2014.Since December he's missed three court-ordered deadlines to remove it.

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On Wednesday,Justice Anne Mactavishwith the Federal Court of Canadafound the Wolfville-based scrap dealer in contempt ofcourt.

She's ordered Dodds serve 20 days in jail, pay a $5,000 penalty to the Town of Shelburne, and a further $5,000 fine.

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But those punishments won't be enacted until after May 31. If Dodds tows the ship away before that, he can apply to the court to have the contempt order vacated.

"There won't be a return to court or anything. The court has reached their decision. In fact, they've awarded costs to the town, which is a good part of the decision,"said Dylan Heide, CAO of the Town of Shelburne.

'Our bottom line is the removal of the vessel'

Heide said the continued presence of Farley Mowat has forced the town to turn away fishing boats willing to pay for the space.

He said Dodds also owes more than $45,000 in unpaid berthing fees, moneythe town will attempt to recover.

"Our bottom line is the removal of the vessel. I think this moves us closer to that,"he said.

"Our hope is that with the opportunity to purge these penalties, Mr. Dodds will take it on himself to complete the removal and apply to the courts for the purger of that contempt finding."

Dodds has removed the main engine of the vessel in preparation for towing.

The vesselsank at the wharf in June 2015.The Canadian Coast Guard hired contractors to raise the vessel, and are still calculating the final cost of that operation.

CBC News has found Dodds owns other derelict vessels in the Nova Scotia.

Dodds has so far refused to comment on his plans for MV Farley Mowat.