Builder of City Boat Says Firm Is Obligated to Fix It
The San Diego builder of an oceanographic vessel for the city of Los Angeles said Monday that her company was obligated to repair the $5.5-million ship at no cost to the city. Instead, the 84-foot vessel, La Mer, was taken to a San Pedro boatyard owned by the nephew of the ship’s designer. The vessel has undergone $400,000 in repairs since last August with no advice from the ship’s builder, Knight & Carver Custom Yachts, according to company general manager Meri Knight.
“No one has talked to us,” Knight told a City Council committee studying the $5.5 million spent on the vessel.
Last week, Knight & Carver accused the city of breach of contract for withholding $200,000 owed on its $4.1-million contract. Councilwoman Joy Picus said she will press the full council to develop a new policy for reviewing specialized contracts such as the one for the oceanographic vessel.
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