Judge rules that Nova Star ship can leave Portland
Courtesy of Nova Star Cruises
The Nova Star Cruises ferry that had been held in Portland Harbor as unpaid debt claims against its operator climbed to the millions is expected to head south to warmer waters in the next few days.
A federal magistrate judge ruled Monday that the vessel may be released from custody after its Singapore-based owner posted a $750,000 bond to secure about $502,000 in disputed claims against the ferry, the Bangor Daily News reported.
The U.S. Marshals Service seized the ship on Oct. 30 after companies and other entities that provided services to the ferry began filing claims of unpaid debt in federal district court. In all, claims totaled more than $3 million, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Nova Star Cruises had operated the ferry route between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, for two years before the Nova Scotia government announced in October it was negotiating with a different ferry operator for next season. Throughout both seasons, the ferry operator missed passenger expectations and exceeded expected costs. In total, the provincial government gave $41.5 million Canadian ($31.5 million USD) in subsidies to Nova Star.
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