USA: New Passenger Ferry to Replace M/V Island Romance

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, recently announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award $2.4 million in federal funding to the Maine Department of Transportation for ferry service improvements in Maine. The funding, which is being distributed through the DOT’s Ferry Boat Discretionary Program, will be distributed as follows:

• $1.2 million to the Casco Bay Island Transit District in Portland. This funding will help cover the cost of engineering and construction of a new passenger ferry, the M/V Wabanaki, which will replace the M/V Island Romance, a passenger ferry certified to carry 299 passengers that was constructed in 1973.
• $1.2 million to the Maine State Ferry Service. This funding will help cover the cost the design and complete construction of a new ferry berthing system, transfer bridge, fender system and support the pier at the Frenchboro Ferry.

“Maine’s ferry services are critical components of our state’s transportation system and are vital, not only to tourism, but to maintaining year-round communities on our islands,” said Senator Collins. “This federal investment will help provide critical upgrades to our aging ferry infrastructure and continue to promote economic development to our island communities.”

US DOT’s Ferry Boat Discretionary Program provides special funding for the construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, August 3, 2012; Image: cascobaylines