Alternative ferry to Nova Star proposed
A less expensive alternative to Nova Star Cruises’ ferry service between Portland and Nova Scotia is being proposed by a group of businessmen who worked on the ferry’s predecessor.
The Portland Press Herald reported that the group of businessmen who previously worked on the Scotia Prince, which ran the same route between 1982 and 2004, have started a new company, Canamerica Cruises, to propose the alternative ferry service.
Bruce McNeil, who leads the group and previously served as the Scotia Prince’s manager of sales, casino operations and marketing, told the newspaper that a smaller ferry that has around half of the Nova Star’s 1,120-passenger capacity could be profitable, unlike the current service, which he believes will never succeed financially.
McNeil is seeking the same kind of financial support given to Nova Star by Nova Scotia’s provincial government, which currently amounts to $26 million (Canadian). He added that the government could get out of its contract with Nova Star because terms weren’t met.
Sarah Levy MacLeod, a spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, told the Press Herald that Nova Star’s first season, which didn’t meet the company’s expectations, is being evaluated and that its plans for next year are being discussed. She added that the province would consider alternative proposals.
Dennis Bailey, a spokesman for Nova Star, told the newspaper that the ferry performed well despite some major obstacles and that he’s confident it will perform better next year.
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