Maine-Nova Scotia CAT ferry cancels another season
File Photo Courtesy / Bay Ferries Ltd.
The province of Nova Scotia has a long-term contract for the high-speed ferry service between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, through the 2025 operating season.
The planned return of the CAT high-speed ferry service from Maine to Nova Scotia, Canada, is canceled for 2021 because of the pandemic, the province of Nova Scotia announced Monday.
The 2021 season would have run from May to October. Last year's season was also called off due to public health concerns about COVID-19.
“It is a disappointing decision to have to make, but given the ongoing uncertainty, it is really the only choice we have. We must keep Nova Scotians safe,” said Lloyd Hines, Nova Scotia's Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister, in a statement.
“The province remains committed to this service in the long term. It will resume when circumstances allow," he added. "Many Nova Scotians invest time, effort and money based on this ferry service, and many highly skilled people work on it. We are appreciative of their service and effort and know they will understand the circumstances.’’
Alf Anderson, executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, told Mainebiz on Wednesday that the local business community looks forward to CAT's return one day.
"It's disappointing to see the COVID-19 pandemic continue to wreak havoc on our economy, both locally and internationally," he added.
The cancellation comes as the border between the two countries remains closed to unrestricted, nonessential travel — a restriction that is not expected to change in the foreseeable future, according to Monday's announcement. It also noted that a critical percentage of the general population is not expected to be vaccinated until summer.
Authorities said that making the decision now will help reduce costs in areas including marketing, hiring additional ship and terminal crew and moving the ferry to Yarmouth. Normal vessel maintenance programs are to continue.
For 12 operating seasons going back to 1998, the CAT transported 1.7 million passengers from Maine to the fishing ports of Nova Scotia's southern shore. Originally travelling from Bar Harbor, the service added Portland to the route in 2006 and later traveled only from Portland until the lease with the city expired in 2018.
Service from Bar Harbor was to have resumed in 2019 after the town bought the terminal where the CAT docked, only to be held up by construction and permitting delays.
Long-term contract
The province of Nova Scotia has a long-term contract for the CAT ferry service through the 2025 operating season. According to Monday's announcement, a work program on the Bar Harbor ferry terminal is complete, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities will be commissioned in the month before service eventually starts.
On average, visitors who use the ferry service contribute $2,200 in tourism revenues each in Nova Scotia. That exceeds the average visitor contribution, of around $1,450.
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