WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree welcomed an agreement announced today to lease a surplus Navy vessel to serve as a Portland to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, ferry as a big win for Maine's tourism and transportation industries.

"This announcement is outstanding news for the City of Portland and the State of Maine," Senator King said, in a news release. "The ferry service between Maine and Nova Scotia is a powerful economic force, driving commerce, bolstering our tourism industry, and supporting jobs here in our state. With the successful lease of this ship, we are now on track to resume service just in time for the peak tourist season and continue this valuable contribution to the Maine economy."

"Portland's working waterfront makes a big contribution to our local economy, and ferry service to Nova Scotia is an important part of that," said Congresswoman Pingree. "The ferry helps bring visitors to Maine and increases the flow of business between Maine and the Maritimes. I'm glad we could get the Navy to act quickly to get this service restored in time for the summer season."

The Navy has agreed to lease a currently unused high-speed catamaran ferry to a Canadian company. The ferry, currently named USNS ALAKAI but to be renamed The CAT, will undergo a refit at a commercial U.S. shipyard at the expense of the leasing company. The vessel is expected to be ready for service between Portland and Yarmouth this summer.

Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree first called the head of the Military Sealift Command in December and urged officials to work within their existing statutory and policy guidelines to give prompt consideration to making the surplus vessel available for lease to serve the Maine to Nova Scotia ferry run. Subsequently, Senator King's and Congresswoman Pingree's offices remained in regular contact with the Navy to facilitate an expedited resolution of the agreement.

Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling urged Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree to help facilitate the resumption of the ferry service, outlining its importance to the City in a December 2015 letter to Senator King.

"The ferry is an important service for Canadian tourism and a cultural connection to Maine," said Mayor Strimling today. "I'd like to thank Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree for their assistance in making sure this particular vessel was made available in time to resume service this summer. The ferry will bring more people to Maine to shop, eat and stay in local hotels."