Jim Wilson, VP and GM of “The Cat” Following a Meeting at City Hall Last Week.

“We are working with the US Customs and Border Protection to resolve this issue.  We are hoping to resolve this quickly.  Now. ASAP,” said Jim Wilson, Vice President and General Manager for “The Cat” last week.

Last Wednesday, Wilson, a native of Nova Scotia, had an “efficient” and “productive” meeting at city hall that he hopes will resolve the immediate future of “The Cat” on the waterfront – for the upcoming season.  Wilson went on to say that he is less concerned about the long-term future of “The Cat”, but he is looking forward to next season here in Portland Harbor.

On November 21, 2017, “The Portland Press Herald” reported, rather stridently, that the city of Portland is not willing to finance the upgrades required by the US Customs and Border Protection that would enable “The Cat” to return to its berth at the Ocean Gateway for the upcoming season.  The source for Peter McGuire’s article was Greg Mitchell,  Director of Portland’s  Economic Development Office, one of the least strident of the city hall employees known to this blogger.

“We have a very positive working relationship with both the City and the US Customs Service,” said Wilson following his meeting at city hall last Wednesday afternoon.

“The Cat” stopped making its ferry runs between Nova Scotia and Portland Harbor on October 14, 2017.

Meanwhile, “The Cat” brought  an as yet unresolved lawsuit against the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Portland and the Portland Pirates, a monopoly, in Portland Harbor, in August for an illegal rate increase.

Please see posts herein dated November 16, 2017 for more background information on the unresolved lawsuit between “The Cat” and the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Portland.