The CAT ferry was up for discussion at a legislative committee meeting yesterday.
The President and CEO of Bay Ferries, the operator of the Yarmouth to Portland, Maine service, told the committee they are looking at extending the sailing season by two weeks in October.
Mark MacDonald also says during the non-peak portions of the season, they may operate less than seven days a week.
“On the basis that in the fall period, if we’re operating five or six days a week, we may be able to stretch the season out a little bit which would be of considerable benefit to tourism operators.”
The company is looking to return the start date to around the first of June.
Over 35,000 passengers traveled on the CAT last year, below the province’s target of 60,000 passengers.
MacDonald says they won’t make projections, but they always hope for ridership to increase.
He says the company has expended about $11 million on the Canadian side.
“The ship is based in Yarmouth, maintained in Yarmouth, all aspects of supply come from there, our crew is housed there as well. I would say from an operator’s standpoint that we are doing everything we can to drive a local economic impact.”
At the end of the upcoming season, the service is expected to cost Nova Scotia taxpayers $32 million.
The vessel is currently tied up in Charleston, South Carolina, and should return to Yarmouth a week to ten days before the season.
