January 25, 2013 - 14:44 — Timothy Gillespie
PORTLAND MAINE INTERNATIONAL FERRY TERMINAL
After more than one year of aggressive pursuit by the Yarmouth-based Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership and the Nova Scotia government, only two firms have expressed an interest in operating a service between Yarmouth and New England.
After more than one year of aggressive pursuit by the Yarmouth-based Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership and the Nova Scotia government, only two firms have expressed an interest in operating a service between Yarmouth and New England.
Keith Condon, chairman of the partnerships had said previously that NSIPF had identified several firms from around the world that were interested in the service. After a report in the fall by a blue-ribbon panel installed by the Nova Scotia government, an RFP was developed and published, with Jan 24 as the final date for submission.
Neither Maine-based Quest Navigation, Inc. nor Baltimore-based Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (MAPC) has operated a ferry service. MAPS says on their web site that they have designed and built a small, hydrofoil ferry, but neither of the partners in Quest has experience in marine services. Lisa Arnold, Quest brand manager, operates a small advertising firm in Massachusetts and no information was provided on the background of partner Mark Amundsen. Other media reports suggest that Arnold and Amundsen have organized a "consortium" for the project.
Quest does not have a web site and they are not currently registered with authorities as being incorporated in Maine or Massachusetts. In response to a request for an interview, SCT received only an email saying that due to "confidentiality and competitive nature of the procurement process, we are unable to comment further at this time." Both Arnold and Amundsen have new LinkedIn accounts, with one contact between them.
Mark Rice, founder and principal with MAPC, told SCT Friday in an interview that, in addition to the competitive nature of the process plus concerns he had about breaching any confidentiality terms of his relationship with the province, he would prefer not to elaborate on his firm's plans for the service. A provincial official told SCT there was no restriction placed on proponents regarding their discussions with media.
MAPC is a sustaining member of International Hydrofoil Society and their bio there says they provide "a mix of scientists, engineers, naval architects and technicians who are motivated to move ideas from concept through design and prototype."
The firm's web site discusses hydrofoil passenger ferries and in 2010, Rice and a colleague made presentations in the Chesapeake bay region for a multi-ship passenger ferry service. At the time, the Society web said that MAPC "has been developing new passenger hydrofoil designs and has also done the groundwork for some specific ferry routes on the Chesapeake Bay."
When asked whether he planned to use a hydrofoil in his Yarmouth-U.S.A ferry scheme, Rice declined, saying he wanted to protect any competitive advantage.
According to the published RFP, both proponents were required to submit a $50,000 certified cheque or bank letter of credit with their respective proposals.
There is no information on the NSIFP web site about the bids or firms beyond a verbatim iteration of the government news release.
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