The province and STM Quest Inc. have signed an agreement to support a new cruise ferry in Yarmouth, to begin in May 2014.  The province has received a signed copy of the agreement and amendments from STM Quest Inc. The company has committed to a May start.

The province and company agreed to make amendments to the letter of offer announced in early September. The parties have:
— clarified language and added more detail including how the province will provide funding during the start-up phase, and the terms of senior management salary deferral during the start-up and if there are operating losses
— revised deadlines for conditions the company must meet
— clarified how and when ST Marine will provide its $3 million contribution
— added auditing rights for the province for more accountability

The province’s financial commitment remains the same. It will provide $21 million to the company over seven years, including $10.5 million toward start-up costs, with $1.5 million each year for marketing.

There are a number of terms and conditions for STM Quest Inc. to receive the assistance and earn forgiveness for the loan.

For a ferry to start operating in 2014, STM Quest, other levels of government and partners must work on: having border services in place in both ports, upgrading the Yarmouth ferry terminal, signing berthing agreements in the two ports, and getting all licences and permits needed to operate a ferry service.

Marketing the ferry and Nova Scotia to potential visitors from the mid-Atlantic and north eastern United States are key parts of the service. The Nova Scotia Tourism Agency has been meeting with STM Quest Inc. to co-ordinate the province’s tourism marketing plans with the company’s detailed plan.

Background information is available at http://novascotia.ca/econ/ in the Initiatives section.

 Metro transit has announced voting for the name of the new harbour ferry Currently under construction at  AF Theriault and sons In Meteghan NS. Starting today, until Wednesday, November 20th, residents can log on to www.Halifax.ca/surveys and pick their favorite name from a list of five finalists. Those choices are:

Chebucto – This Mi’kmaq name means ‘the biggest harbour’. There is evidence that the Mi’kmaq would spend the summer on the shores of the Bedford Basin, before heading inland for winter.

Christopher Stannix – Christopher Stannix was a graduate of Auburn High School and attended Saint Mary’s University. In 2001 he enlisted with the Canadian Armed Forces and in 2007 willingly accepted a reduction in rank to serve his county. In April 2007, Master Corporal Stannix was killed when the vehicle he was in struck a roadside bomb. He was 24 years old.

Daniel Brownlow – Mr. Brownlow was a former Mayor of Dartmouth from 1976 until 1985 and was the longest serving Mayor in Dartmouth’s history. In addition to great service to public life, Mr. Brownlow also served as the Queen’s Harbour Master responsible for the safety of Halifax Harbour.

Robert Keddy – ‘Captain Bob’ as he was known worked as a seaman on both the Bounty and the Bluenose II. In 1969 he took over as the Captain of the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry and later served as Ferry Services Supervisor. Captain Keddy became synonymous with the ferry service until he retired in 1998. He passed away in March 2013.

Vincent Coleman – Vincent Coleman was a train dispatcher who, on the morning of the Halifax Explosion, December 6, 1917, telegraphed a message instructing all trains inbound for Halifax to stop. Hundreds of passengers were kept away from the impending explosion because of his efforts.
Additional information and background on all of the finalists are available on www.Halifax.ca/surveys.

The original list of 1,200 names was shortened down to 20 names by Metro Transit and HRM Corporate Communications staff, based on appropriateness and originality. The final list of five names was determined by a selection committee comprised of Mayor Savage and one councillor from each of the three HRM Community Councils. This was the process agreed to by Regional Council.