An American federal court has ordered the seizure of the money-losing ferry that links Nova Scotia with Portland, Maine.
The order against Nova Star Cruises, issued Friday, comes after the Nova Scotia government announced it was switching operating companies from Nova Star Cruises to Bay Ferries.
Nova Star cost Nova Scotia taxpayers $41.5 million, and now it’s costing people in Maine close to $1 million.
Portland Pilots Inc. is owed almost $200,000. Now, a fuel company has filed with the court saying it's owed almost $500,000.
“I had heard that news a few months ago, that one of the suppliers was looking for some money, so it wasn't a surprise,” said Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood.
The City of Portland is also owed $100,000, as well as a television station for an undisclosed amount of money, and another company, A.L. Griffith Inc., for $13,000.
A.L. Griffith owner Mark Usinger tells CTVNews he cut off the company during the summer when a company representing Nova Star failed to pay up at the time.
Usinger says the Nova Star accounts were being handled by Florida company Fleet Pro. He tried calling them recently, but couldn’t get through.
Nova Star issued a statement that it has paid most of its suppliers and intends to pay the rest, but Conservative MLA for Pictou East, Tim Houston,is concerned about Nova Scotia businesses.
“Certainly want assurances from the Liberal government that there's no Nova Scotian companies that are similarly out of pocket,” said Houston.
Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan says he had no indication of what was happening in the U.S. or the seizure of the vessel.
“We've kept close eyes on the cash flows this year. The $13 million was committed,” he said.
A search at the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and inquiry at the federal court in Halifax on Monday did not turn up any claims against the Nova Star.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Rick Grant.
