The town of Bar Harbor is closer to seeing the return of international ferry service after a 10-year hiatus. Last Thursday the town closed on the $3.5 million purchase of the Eden Street ferry terminal property from the Maine Department of Transportation.
Bar Harbor Town Manager Cornell Knight says Bay Ferries Ltd., which operates The Cat Ferry, anticipates signing a lease over the next week or so.
"But they're still working out details with customs and border protections, which have been delayed due to the government shutdown," Knight says.
Knight says the Town Council has authorized him to sign a 5-year lease with the company. He says Bay Ferries was shooting for a June start date, but the delays have made that more difficult. He says the company still hopes to have the service up and running this season.
For the past three seasons Portland has hosted the ferry service to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.