BAR HARBOR, Maine — The CAT ferry, providing passenger service between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, experienced a 10% increase in ridership over last year, according to its operator. The 2026 season concluded on Wednesday, with the service recording its second highest passenger numbers of the last five years.
Bay Ferries Limited, which operates the ferry, stated in a press release that a total of 44,032 passengers and 18,124 vehicles utilized The CAT ferry this season. This marks an increase from 2025, when the vessel carried 39,745 passengers and 16,233 vehicles. Mark Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bay Ferries Limited, noted the company had a "significant bounce back year" despite various external issues, and successfully grew the service, bringing "tens of thousands of high value visitors into Nova Scotia." Wilson further specified that approximately 85% of total passengers were Americans, with Canadians making up the remaining 15%, and that American travelers accounted for the majority of the year-over-year growth.
Throughout the season, The CAT completed 120 round trips. Twelve additional round trips were canceled due to weather conditions. The service requires pilot assistance into Bar Harbor’s waters, a service that costs the Province of Nova Scotia approximately $350,000 per season. These pilots are responsible for executing a 180-degree turn when docking the vessel at the Bay Ferries Terminal, located on the town-owned site on Route 3. This maneuver involves navigating a roughly 600-foot-wide channel, carefully avoiding lobster buoys and other gear, and bringing the vessel to its port, which is located farther inland than where cruise ships typically dock. The CAT itself is an 8,127-ton vessel with a 12-foot draft, capable of carrying more than 800 people onboard.
Darlene Grant Fiander, President of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, emphasized the CAT’s importance in bringing visitors to the province. Grant Fiander stated that seeing growth over last year was positive, especially considering the "geo-political climate," and underscored the service as a crucial conduit for tourism, on which operators rely for predictability and stability. Despite its importance, the ferry’s operating fees do not cover its estimated $21 million annual costs, necessitating subsidies from the Canadian government. Wilson expressed anticipation for next year, stating the company is excited to welcome passengers and looks forward to continuing to grow the service for the benefit of Nova Scotians.
The ferry did not operate in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, The CAT service operated out of Bar Harbor from 1956 through 2009, ceasing operations when Nova Scotia ended its subsidies. It later ran from Portland to Nova Scotia from 2014 through 2018 before returning to Bar Harbor with fully operational status in 2022. The schedule for the 2027 season is expected to be released within the next two weeks. Bay Ferries Limited holds a contract with the Canadian province, which is set to run through mid-October, and an economic analysis has confirmed the ferry’s positive impact on Nova Scotia.
