Nova Scotia Comes Alive in 2011!

Boston-Shelburne Ferry

For almost fifteen years there have been constant rumors about a ferry that will run from Boston to the Nova Scotia town of Shelburne, which is forty minutes south of White Point. The plain fact is that it would mean that Boston travelers could enjoy a visit to Nova Scotia without putting in the road time requires. They could either bring their cars with them to tour the province or park them at the Wharf and let the local tour companies take them around.

According to the May 4, 2006 edition of the Cape Cod News the intended trip would include gaming. “Gene Hartigan and Guy Conrad, two Massachusetts political lobbyists working hand-in-hand with Shelburne Mayor P.G. Comeau to bring a gambling and ferry ship operation to this small town, have important friends in high places, including Alaska Congressman Don Young, who is chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which just happens to oversee the budget of the U.S. Coast Guard . . .”

But could it make money? A study in 2000 prepared by the Boston-based, Louis Berger Group and paid for by the state indicates that even with conservative the service could generate $9.7M US every six months, enough to make the service viable.

But so far no ferry. Why? There are various reasons: lack of adequate security stations (which would be a large cost), suitable ship, gaming licence. . .the list goes on. The original quote was with Scotia Prince, the veteran car-carrier that operated from Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. But that was scuttled along with the shipping company’s operation in Nova Scotia.

Maybe our friend, Shelburne Mayor P.G. Comeau can count on the ferry in 2008. With the high Canadian dollar and the border situation not as friendly as it once was we could sure use it.

*2009 Update: P.G. Comeau is no longer the mayor of Shelburne so theis project is stilll on hold*