Hundreds lined the waterfront in Yarmouth, N.S. Friday morning as the new Nova Star ferry made its maiden voyage from Portland, Maine.
“When it first came in the harbour I cried, but it’s just from excitement,” said Brenda Atwood, who owns a bed and breakfast in the area.
Craig Michaud and Tara Marandos were the first people off the ferry.
“I can’t believe the homecoming, it’s beautiful!” said Michaud.
The vessel operated by Nova Star Cruises arrived in Yarmouth Friday after departing from Portland on Thursday.
The new service re-establishes the transportation link between Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States that stopped in 2009.
“This is re-establishing a historic and important link with one of the biggest tourism markets in the world,” said Nova Scotia Liberal MLA Zach Churchill.
Yarmouth residents say they hope the re-establishment of ferry service will give the region a much-needed economic boost.
“They’ll all go to the local shops and it will really boost the economy for Yarmouth,” said Grade 9 student Connor Kehoe.
“We see everybody positive, happy. Summer starts when you see the ferry come up to the docks,” said store manager Mark Hubbard.
Nova Star officials say about 300 passengers sailed into Yarmouth Friday morning. The ferry can carry more than 1,200 people but officials say they expect numbers to rise during peak season.
The 161-metre cruise ferry is scheduled to make daily round-trip crossings until Nov. 2.
The company is getting help in the form of $21 million over seven years from the provincial government.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Suzette Belliveau and The Canadian Press
