Port decision still in the works: ferry operator

The operator of the Nova Scotia to Maine ferry link says the company is continuing the process of a possible move of its landing port in the state.

Bay Ferries says it’s looking at relocating from Portland to Bar Harbor and is waiting to hear from the town on whether it wants to enter into a lease for a portion of the existing ferry terminal property.

The company says officials in Bar Harbour will likely make a final determination on Tuesday.

Bay Ferries says a number of factors are at play, including fuel prices, the shorter trip from Yarmouth, N.S., to Bar Harbour, and the continued availability of the Portland ferry terminal.

The company says it continues to have the option of extending its current lease in Portland for another season, but that ends on Nov. 15.

It also requires a commitment on the construction of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at the site, something that would cost upwards of $8 million.

The company says discussions are ongoing with U.S. customs officials about the facilities required for Bar Harbor and it has hired an architect and several engineering consultants to assess the cost of the work required to move the port.

“Throughout this consideration of Bar Harbor, which originated in the summer of 2017, the province and Bay Ferries engaged in full and ongoing communication as to all aspects of this potential project,” Bay Ferries said in a news release Friday.

“Ultimately it will require a positive decision of all the parties ... taking all factors into consideration for the project to proceed.”

Bay Ferries submitted the proposal to the town of Bar Harbor in July, a move that came a month after town residents voted to purchase the shuttered ferry terminal from the state for $3.5 million.

Before 2009, the ferry service between Nova Scotia and Maine operated out of both Portland and Bar Harbor. A cut to the service’s operating subsidy prompted Bay Ferries to end the service in 2009.