PORTLAND, Maine — Nova Scotia tourism officials said they plan to make a decision mid-summer on whether Nova Star Cruises will continue operating its luxury ferry line between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Thursday that the province plans to decide by July or August whether Nova Star Cruises will continue receiving a government subsidy to operate the service that’s been allocated $41.5 million (Canadian) from the province over two seasons.
Geoff MacLellan, the province’s transportation minister, told the CBC a deal for the 2016 season “is theirs to lose” and that the decision will depend on a review of the ferry’s financial statements.
Nova Star Cruises used all of a $28.5 million subsidy in its first season and has used about $8.1 million of a $13 million subsidy this season.
Mark Amundsen, CEO of Nova Star Cruises, told the Chronicle Herald that the company may not need the rest of the allocation for this season, depending on how the season progresses. The company said it expects to carry about 80,000 passengers this season, up from 59,000 in its first year.
MacLellan told the Chronicle Herald that the province has heard from three other operators interested in taking over the service, but the Nova Star remains the front-runner.
MacLellan plans to meet with Gov. Paul LePage later this month to discuss what support, if any, Maine state government might be able to provide for the service. LePage said last fall that his administration planned to submit a bill that would have allowed Maine to provide a $5 million line of credit to Nova Star Cruises. He did not submit such a bill.