Bay Ferries in for the long haul: president

Jonathan Riley

DIGBY COURIER

NovaNewsNow.com

Bay Ferries president Mark MacDonald says his company is planning to run the Digby-Saint John ferry service long-term. “We would not have been interested in a two-year term if we didn’t see the potential for a long-term service. We continue testing assumptions in our business plan and we are looking at how we can go forward long term.”

MacDonald revealed details of the company’s plans at a ferry forum at the Digby Area Tourism Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Cornwallis.

The plan includes renovations to the ship, a new business plan and something he calls “creating an experience.”

To begin his talk he pointed across the Annapolis Basin to the ferry wharf in the Digby gut. “I don’t know how we managed this timing but the Princess of Acadia is visible there today just in time for the Tourism Showcase.”

The company spent $700,00 on routine maintenance required by regulation and also began interior renovations and reconfigurations while the ferry was in Halifax for three weeks.

The company is upgrading all the seating and flooring on the ship with help from an interior designer “who understands more colours than just red and blue.”

They are adding TVs and making one lounge into a Sports Bar, a move MacDonald says was successful for them on the CAT, the company’s high-speed ferry between Yarmouth and Maine.

And they are creating a business centre on board to allow travelers to stay productive during the crossing. “We are finding it surprisingly challenging to achieve high-speed Internet in the middle of the Bay but I can’t accept this and I continue to challenge our suppliers and technicians.

MacDonald says the Princess of Acadia looks a little tore apart right now but all the work should be finished by early May.

MacDonald also talked about the company’s business plan.

MacDonald says his company is committed to finding the right balance on prices. “We are very conscious that some people find it expensive- we hear it all the time but this is not an easy thing – it’s the challenge of every business. “If we drop our price 25 per cent, we need one-third more customers just to keep revenues the same.”

MacDonald spoke about plans to “create an experience,” that is make the crossing into more than just transportation. “We want to make it more attractive to kids and highlight the magical experience of being on the Bay of Fundy.”

MacDonald says the company is still developing this idea but it may include displays about the ecology of the bay or “good old fashioned hospitality” and traditional music. “The ferry has a great history of dances and musical crossings although we don’t have anything figured out yet.”

Such attractions might depend on local partnerships with community organizations.

MacDonald stressed that the ultimate success of the ferry depends on the support of the local communities and he thanked everyone for the support they gave to the company and its employees last summer.

jriley@digbycourier.ca