Aaargh! A pirate ship in St. Helens?

ST. HELENS, Ore. - A new tourist attraction in St. Helens could have children walking the plank - wearing eye patches and saying ‘shiver me timbers.’

Some in the city are trying find a new home for a pirate ship currently moored in California.  The new home for that pirate ship could be in the St. Helens marina -- that is if people agree to spend the money to get the ship here and make the repairs, which could be $100,000 or maybe more. )

“If all that goes through, the hope would be it be moored here at St. Helens marina and act as a tourist attraction, a draw for visitors and also a recreation spot for locals.  The question remains would it all be worth the cost?

“So we wouldn't get direct benefit it would be indirect businesses and through people's enjoyment of an attraction, something novel,” said Skip Baker, a Pirate Ship Effort volunteer.

The snag could be the hull of the ship is made of cement and they want to find out how that's held up over the years in salt water. An ad hoc committee will look at whether it wants to spend money -- anywhere from $1,000 to a few thousand dollars -- to have an inspection of the ship. If the committee approves it, it will go to the tourism committee and eventually the city council would decide.

Locals say St. Helens has been wanting to be a tourist town and they hope the local marina is a place they can make that happen.