Group near deal for ferry to Nova Scotia

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Bound for Boston?

Group near deal for ferry to Nova Scotia

By , Globe Staff | June 2, 2005

A proposed ferry between Boston and Nova Scotia that

would let passengers bring their cars, gamble, eat, or

shop during the trip could set sail as early as next

month.

Shores Atlantic LLC, the group that would operate the

new service, is in final talks with the owners of the

Scotia Prince, the 300-cabin ship they hope to lease,

and with the Massachusetts Port Authority for dock

space, said Eugene Hartigan, one of five investors in

the venture.

If all goes well, final contracts between the parties

could be signed this month, clearing the way for the

inaugural 14-hour cruise sometime between July 1 and

Aug. 1, he said.

The ferry would be the first such regular service

connecting Boston's waterways with Canada's Nova

Scotia, and could boost Massport's efforts to bring

more cruise passengers through the Port of Boston. The

number of passengers taking cruises from Boston has

risen and tumbled in recent years, even as Massport

has worked to draw more ships and more passengers.

Several cruise lines offer Caribbean, trans-Atlantic,

and Bermuda cruises from Boston. This year, Massport

expects 225,000 passengers to board cruise ships here,

up from 199,453 in 2004.

Massport spokeswoman Danny Levy confirmed the talks,

but said that several regulatory and community

approval hurdles still need to be cleared.

The group is negotiating with Massport over the use of

two potential docking locations for the ferry.

Hartigan said the group prefers a deep-water berth

along the Mystic River in town, a site that has

ample parking.

''We look at the ship as a fun vehicle for people who

maybe wouldn't take a Caribbean cruise, but would take

a two- or four-day trip to Nova Scotia, " Hartigan

said.

If the new ferry sees the light of day, it would

replace a defunct service that until last year ran

between Portland, Maine, and Nova Scotia. Scotia

Prince Cruises, the company that used to operate that

service, canceled its 2005 schedule in April, citing

''dangerous levels of toxic mold " infesting the cruise

terminal it had leased from the City of Portland,

according to a statement from the company's chairman,

Hudson, posted on its website.

Officials for Scotia Prince Cruises did not return

calls from the Globe, but Wood, Portland's city

attorney, confirmed that the cruise company has filed

a lawsuit against the city.

''Our view of why they stopped running out of Portland

is very different from their view, " Wood said. The

city plans to countersue and has leased the terminal

space out to a bus company that is running trips to

the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut, he said.

Portland's loss could end up the gain of Bostonians

and others willing to travel here for an overnight

cruise filled with gambling, shows, or just

relaxation.

Hartigan said the Portland lawsuit should not affect

his group's efforts to lease the Scotia Prince. The

ship can accommodate 1,000 passengers and about 185

cars, and the fares would range from $100 to $200 per

round trip. He said the company could be profitable

with roughly 250 people on each trip.

The ship carried an average of 700 to 800 passengers

per trip when it was running from Portland, Hartigan

said.

Initial plans are for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

evening departures from Boston to Shelburne, Nova

Scotia, with return trips on Tuesday, Thursday, and

Saturday mornings. Shelburne is a two-hour drive south

of Halifax.

On Sundays, the group would operate a $50 per person

''family cruise to nowhere " that would take between

four and six hours and travel a short distance into

the Atlantic and back to Boston.

The cruise season would last through October, Hartigan

said.

Once onboard, passengers could play slot machines and

other gaming tables, watch a show in a 237-seat

theater, or use a spa.

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