PORTLAND, Maine - A ribbon-cutting ceremony today kicked off the start of the new sailing season for the Nova Star ferry. The 750-passenger ship started ferrying visitors between the two cities last year, but carried a little more than half of the expected passengers.
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Mayor Pam Mood says she hopes the numbers will be higher this season. "Last year was the first year," Mood says. "You can't expect a business this size to be up and running 100 percent."
The cruise service also spent $21 million loaned by Nova Scotia in its first season, though the funds were supposed to last seven years. Maine has not made a financial contribution to the Nova Star.
