The CEO of Bay Ferries continues to lobby authorities in the United States to allow passengers to pre-clear customs in Yarmouth rather than when they disembark the CAT ferry in Portland.
The vessel ended it’s 2017 sailing season on October 15th but Mark MacDonald says the issue is always front and centre for the company.
He says the CAT transported over 41,400 passengers, an increase of approximately 17 per cent over the previous year.
The company was forced to cancel a number of trips after the crankshaft on the main starboard outer engine failed.
As far as the present ferry terminal is concerned, MacDonald says they’re making it work.
But he says it would be nice at some point to move into a more modern facility.
“Which in turn might enable the consideration of introduction of U-S pre-clearance on the Yarmouth side. That would be a big potential benefit of replacement of the terminal but we’re also very conscious of the fact that governments doesn’t have unlimited money and that money doesn’t grow on trees.”
The CAT ferry is in Charleston to have the crankshaft replaced.
