Parksville, British Columbia (WFN) -- Anchors aweigh! An old British WWII aircraft carrier is up for sale to the general public.

The HMS Vengeance was built in 1944 and loaned to Australia from 1953 to 1955 before being sold to Brazil in 1956 and eventually de-commissioned in 2001.

The 693-foot vessel came into hands of British Columbia-based boat reseller French Creek Boat Sales Ltd. which sells sail boats, tug boats and other ships.

Company owner Dwayne Henry says there has been a lot of interest in the carrier since it went up for sale two months ago but says a likely buyer will be a riverboat gambling casino who will refit it with swimming pools, lodging and can even leave the landing strip to receive planes.

Henry says aircraft carriers don't become available very often and, when they do, are usually sold for scrap-metal.

Still, he says this carrier is too nice for that fate and figures $4.5 million isn't a big asking price considering yachts sell for $60 to $70 million.

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