Boston's Tall Ships festival salvaged

BOSTON, June 17 (UPI) -- Money has been found to salvage the Tall Ships festival in Boston, although this summer's event will be held on a more modest scale than in the past.

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority agreed to provide $1 million for public safety, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. The city said that Sail Boston in 2000 stuck it with a $1.6 million bill for policing the festival.

There will be no parade of sailing ships in the harbor this summer and no fireworks. The compromise was worked out between Mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

The public will be able to board some of the vintage ships for free while they are docked in Boston.

The ships, 49 of them, are scheduled to arrive on a staggered schedule beginning July 8 and to remain at least until July 13.

Menino had threatened drastic action, including cutting off public access to the docks and even barring the ships from Boston Harbor.