HALIFAX – The U.S. Marshal tells Global News that it has seized the Nova Star ferry following an order from the U.S. District Court in Maine.
Global News obtained court documents citing a warrant for the arrest of the vessel, which was ordered last Friday.
The move comes after Portland Pilots Incorporated, which provides pilotage services to vessels entering and exiting the Port of Portland, complained that it was owed nearly $200,000 USD by Nova Star Cruises. Nova Star Cruises runs the vessel between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine.
Invoices provided to the court show 61 missing payments for the pilotage services, which cost $3,198.32 each. The invoices run from August 17 to October 15. Portland Pilots Incorporated said it is owed $195,897.52 in total.
The warrant orders the seizure of the Nova Star, its engines, boilers, tackle, appurtenances and electronics. The three counts against Nova Star Cruises are breach of contract, unjust enrichment and quantum meruit.
Nova Star Cruises responded to Global News with the following statement:
“Nova Star Cruises has paid most of its supplier costs. We plan to pay all our suppliers as we have done over the past two seasons.”
They declined a request for an interview.
The vessel is currently under the watch of a custodian, a company that specializes in maritime arrest and custody services.
U.S. Marshal spokesperson Dean Knightly tells Global News the seizure of the ferry was without incident and the vessel will remain in custody in the Port of Portland until the court matter is dealt with.
Province ends relationship with Nova Star Cruises
The arrest comes days after the Nova Scotia government announced that it was bumping Nova Star Cruises from operating the service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine after two disappointing seasons and more than $40 million in government funding.
RELATED: Bay Ferries Limited to take over operation of Yarmouth Ferry
Nova Scotia’s Minister of Transportation Geoff MacLellan said he found out about the seizure through the media.
He provided the following statement to Global News:
“With last week’s announcement, the province effectively ended its relationship with Nova Star. We fulfilled our $13-million financial commitment to Nova Star Cruises and are now working to get an agreement in place with Bay Ferries, the new operator.”
Global News asked the minister how the seizure may impact the province’s agreement with Bay Ferries. The new operator has less than 45 days to decide what vessel it wants to use for the route. MacLellan declined to comment.
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