Nova Scotia extends the Yarmouth–Bar Harbor ferry through the 2027 season

The Province of Nova Scotia and Bay Ferries Ltd have signed an extension agreement for the ferry between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Maine. The service will continue to operate in 2027 as it has been, from May to October.

Fred Tilley, Minister of Public Works, said: “Knowing that the Yarmouth ferry will continue to operate uninterrupted next season is a success under difficult circumstances.” The department, with Bay Ferries, will explore options for a sustainable long-term future for the service.

Mark Wilson, President and CEO of Bay Ferries Ltd, pointed to “10-per-cent growth over last year’s traffic” and said: “We are already looking forward to the 2027 season.”

The province said the ferry transported about 44,000 passengers during the 2026 sailing season, an increase of about 10 per cent from 2025, and that about 85 per cent of ferry passengers are from the United States. It has budgeted about $21 million for the service in 2026. A 2026 study showed that people arriving by the Yarmouth ferry tend to stay longer and spend more than average visitors.