Shelburne Ferry: Study Suggests $14.7M US in Revenues

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Outdoor Nova Scotia: "The Best Way to be Informed."

You can join a discussion of the proposed Shelburne Ferry service - at Speaker's Corner, Outdoor Nova Scotia's outdoor discussion forum.

by Vaughn Mullen, Managing Editor

February 24th, 2000 Halifax, N.S. - A proposed high-speed ferry service linking Shelburne, Nova Scotia with Gloucester, Massachusetts could raise in excess of $14M US in six-month revenues for a prospective operator. The figures were contained in a study released recently, and reported today in the Halifax Chronicle Herald.

The study, prepared by the Boston-based, Louis Berger Group and paid for by the state indicates that even with conservative estimates the service could generate $9.7M US every six months, enough to make the service viable.

Gloucester city spokesperson, Rosamund Smith said, "We're pleased with the study." She added, "Because the distance for many Americans to get to Gloucester is far less than going to Bar Harbour or Portland, it would be more attractive if Nova Scotia was the destination."

It is anticipated that the Shelburne ferry crossing would take about 51/2 hours to complete, compared to about 21/2 hours on the 'Cat' between Yarmouth and Bar Harbour, Maine and about 12 hours on the 'Scotia Prince' between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine.

According to the Berger study the development of attractive terminals in both Shelburne and Gloucester would be critical to the success of the new service.

Smith explained, "The city of Gloucester is counting on the private sector to figure that out and make the investment. We're trying to use the demand study as a tool to attract the private sector."

The study suggested a six-month season for the ferry service, from May to October. It also recommended that the operator ensure that trucks would not displace passenger vehicles.