The CAT ferry could be moving from Portland to Bar Harbor, Maine next season.
Bay Ferries submitted a proposal to Bar Harbor town council yesterday to set up operations there in time for the 2019 sailing season.
Council will look it over at a meeting this Tuesday.
The former CAT ferry used to sail to Bar Harbor, but that service was cancelled in 2009.
Bay Ferries CEO Mark MacDonald says the proposal recommends all parties, including the town and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to look things over carefully through the next few months.
“To determine what costs are going to be. On or around October 1 this year, that decision needs to be made by all parties on whether or not they wish to proceed.”
The new location needs renovations to accommodate the vessel.
MacDonald says their current relationship with the city of Portland is good, and have kept them aware of the potential move.
“But there is uncertainty that we have about the long term availability of the ferry terminal and lands in Portland, which is also behind our decision to determine whether there is an alternate option available.”
He says Bar Harbor is an attractive tourism market, bringing in three and a half million people a year.
