News release

Companies Ask for More Time for Ferry Submissions

Economic and Rural Development and Tourism (Jan. 2011 - April 2015)

Interested companies are asking for more time to prepare business plans for a new ferry service in Yarmouth, so the province is providing two more weeks to make sure they have the time they need.

"We're working hard to find a company with a sound business plan for a sustainable ferry service in Yarmouth," said Graham Steele, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "We made this recruitment process more flexible and less formal than a request for proposals to ensure something like a firm deadline doesn't get in the way of a qualified operator submitting a plan."

Companies will have until July 4, extended from June 20.

The province and the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership are working together to find a qualified company to run a ferry service to the United States. The Yarmouth-based partnership is helping promote the opportunity and assess if companies qualify, and acting as a local contact.

Business plans will be evaluated on criteria similar to the request for proposals. For more information, visit http://novascotia.ca/econ/docs/40580_CANUSAFerryOpp_3.pdf .

A team of representatives of government departments and the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership will evaluate the plans.

The process is targeting a 2014 start date for the service, as recommended by the expert panel.

The province is offering a financial package of up to $21 million over seven years for a qualified company with a sound business plan.