Yarmouth ferry service extended into 2026
The Nova Scotia government has extended the seasonal ferry service between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Maine, into the 2026 season, citing its tourism benefits.
The province previously had agreements in place to run the ferry through 2025. It budgeted $21 million for the service this year. The final bill isn't yet known.
"This also gives us the time that we need to start planning for a long-term solution for this service. We know it is high value to Nova Scotians," said Public Works Minister Kim Masland on Tuesday morning during an event on the ferry in Yarmouth, N.S.
For the past year, consulting firm 21FSP has been studying the economic impacts of the ferry. Though it was initially contracted to deliver a report this fall, the province said the firm is continuing to collect and analyze data.
On Tuesday, it released a report detailing the findings to date.
"We know our numbers are increasing. We know we need the consistency with the service. We know that Americans are coming here, they're spending lots of money, they're travelling throughout our province," said Masland.
Kim Masland, minister of public works, answered questions on the ferry Tuesday morning. (Paul Poirier/CBC)
The progress report found visitors who took the ferry spent a total of about $20.1 million, which the minister said she found a "shocking number" that "proves the reasons why we needed to do this economic impact study."
The analysis found the visitors spent an average of eight nights in Nova Scotia and travelled throughout the province, with about a quarter going to Cape Breton.
It also found 19 per cent of U.S. visitors came to the province by ferry and they are considered "high-value tourists" because of how much they spent and how long they stay.
The final report is now expected next fall.
When 21FSP was awarded the contract, it was valued at $180,000.
If the service is to continue after 2026, the province will need to enter into new agreements with the vessel, operator and U.S. terminal.
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