Before I start my blog entry today, I would like to say even with me thinking about fleet renewal for a few ferries here on the east coast, I'm still a big fan of both ships mentioned in my latest blog postings for their service longevity and being built in Canada specifically for each route served. (rant 1: Digby-Saint John ferry replacement rant 2: replacement NS-PEI ferry/ Government funding for those interested reading both rants). For those wanting more info and more opinions on one of our aging ferries please read Mac Mackay's Shipfax blog post related to the Princess of Acadia. We basically have the same opinion when it comes to this subject matter.
Now, to my blog entry for today: there has been two proposals sent to the Provincial government of Nova Scotia to provide a ferry service out of Yarmouth. The biggest thing, it's not a Canadian company bidding to operate the service. Maritime Applied Physics Corp. of Baltimore Maryland and Quest Navigation out of Maine are the two successful candidates to make a feasible RFP (Request For Proposal). Noticeably absent was P&O lines, a company that has been talking about maybe being interested in operating a ship out of Yarmouth. The terms of what boat (cruise ferry is the most suitable buisness model) would be used, which U.S. port (Portland most likely in my opinion) would be the destination and anticipated start date is still unknown and can be debated for a while yet. The market for a cruise ferry of any type is looking very grim as there's not a wide market for such ships right now. I'm still thinking a ferry of any type around our area will be running at a loss every season as not a whole lot of people travel now because of high fuel prices, passports to enter/leave each country and our high Canadian dollar. Bay Ferries has experienced this in the past with the CAT ferry and has ceased operations because of those situations and having the wrong ship for the job. Three ferry services under the private sector have had Federal and Provincial subsidies for quite some time and will require to have this infusion of cash in order to operate safely and efficiently in the future. A ferry link to New England in this day and age is still a risky venture to take on in my opinion.
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