Skipjack to cruise at National Harbor

A historic skipjack (a sailboat designed to dredge for oysters) owned by the city of Baltimore will run cruises and private charters at National Harbor in Prince George's County this summer.

The city's spending board approved a plan Wednesday for the Minnie V to be operated by Potomac River Boating for the summer.

The renovated vessel dates to 1906 and has been maintained and run by the nonprofit Living Classrooms Foundation for educational programs and tours since 1996. But the group says when it reduced the ship's passenger capacity in line with Coast Guard guidelines last year, it was no longer profitable.

The foundation is considering bringing the vessel back to Baltimore next year to run tours from Fort McHenry.