The province has awarded the contract for a study of the ‘CAT’ ferry.

Consulting firm 21 FSP will do a broad economic impact study of the service, which runs from Yarmouth to Bar Harbor, Maine.

It will include data from 2 sailing seasons.

The study will cost 180-thousand dollars, and should be completed next fall.

The contract with Bay Ferries is up after the 2025 sailing season.

Public Works Minister Kim Masland says this level of detail has never been gathered before, and it will help determine if the service is providing good value to Nova Scotians.