A group that includes Erik Hultkrantz, the former manager of Floating Fleet – the onboard entity in charge of the day-to-day operation of the Scotia Prince for close to two decades – has prepared a 50-page analysis of issues and costs associated with running a ferry service. The proponents are in touch with several potential investors.
Hultkrantz, who now runs a company called the Shuttle in Tampa, Florida, says he started compiling a business plan several years ago in case the “re-launch” of a ferry service was required. He read with interest and horror of the predicament of southwestern Nova Scotia. “It’s obviously a lifeline for people and tourism south of Halifax,” he said.
Hultkrantz says he doesn’t want to give people false hope and cautions his group is “so in the beginning of this.” “We have certainly put our plan in the hands of some investment groups and funding parties but we have no commitments and we have not been able to negotiate the ship without funding commitments,” he said.
The ship his group has pinpointed was built in the 1980s. It is somewhat larger than the Scotia Prince but will require some refitting.
The Scotia Prince had 315 cabins and could hold 200 cars, trucks and buses.
The proposed sailing schedule would be similar, but because of the greater speed of a newer ship, there would be a longer turnaround time.
The daily service would depart from Portland’s Ocean Gateway International Marine Terminal at 8 p.m., and arrive in Yarmouth around 7 a.m. Passengers leaving Yarmouth would most likely require accommodation here for an early morning departure.
Hultkrantz believes the seasonal service could be run without subsidization although assistance with advertising Nova Scotia would be helpful. “You certainly need an awful lot of co-op help when it comes to marketing the province,” he said.
High operating costs make catamarans such as The Cat unfeasible and passengers are onboard for a much shorter time, he said.
Consequently they are not able to take advantage of more services. “I never understood why you need to go so fast when you are on vacation,” he said. “That’s half the fun. A conventional ferry, it’s not only like an airplane. It becomes much more.”
Bob Cott, a partner with CD&M Communications in Portland, believes Hultkrantz has the experience and connections to bring the boat about. "He really wants to do this,” said Cott, who refers to Hultkrantz as “highly competent and highly regarded in Portland.”
Cott’s business handled advertising for the Scotia Prince for 15 years until it was purchased by Matthew Hudson. The ferry sailed for 30 years before it ceased service in 2005. “If you think about this, if this is pulled together for the 2011 season, sometime around (this) July or August we have to have a website up, we have to get all the printed materials done so the travel agents can start distributing it, etc., so it’s closer than you would think,” said Cott. “Erik has been in contact, and working with, the city manager here in Portland and a lot of people are excited about it down here,” he said.
However, Hultkrantz remains realistic and says it all depends on the first round. “If we get some commitment from our investors then we can move very fast. If we don’t then we have to go out for a second round.”
No potential investors have been contacted in Nova Scotia; the group has concentrated on Maine and overseas instead. But Canadian investors would certainly be entertained. “They have a better sense in our opinion of what both Maine and Nova Scotia need,” said Hultkrantz.
