Nova Star ferry talks cover line of credit, Portland terminal

Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan says his meeting with the governor of Maine aboutthe Nova Star ferry was "very, very encouraging."

MacLellan met with Governor Paul LePage in Augusta, Maine, Thursday to discuss mutualprovincial and state interests in the ferry.

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"From the governor to his senior staff, they're 100 per cent committed to making the Yarmouth ferry service work," MacLellan said.

"They're actually sending a delegation almost immediately to Nova Scotia to have some very senior-level conversations about how we can work together on the infrastructure side, the marketing side, and looking at how we're going to move forward."

In Thursday'sdiscussions, MacLellan said the overall service was reviewed,including a line of credit needed to sustain the ferry.

MacLellan said Maine will broker a conversation with a commercial bank to support a line of credit.

Portland's ferry terminal, which was recently upgraded for $20 million, will also be discussed.

MacLellansaid the general consensus amongst the people of Maine is that the ferry is important to them and state tourism.