Join us on The CAT this year! The inaugural sailing for the 2024 season is on May 17. View Schedule

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About The CAT

The History

For 12 operating seasons, The CAT brought 1.7 million travelers from the rocky granite coastlines of Maine to the scenic fishing ports of Nova Scotia’s south shore. Beginning in 1998 as a replacement for a decommissioned ferry passage between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Bar Harbor, Maine, The CAT high-speed ferry service has lived many lives. First as the HSC INCAT 046, an ultra-fast Australian-built catamaran that ferried passengers between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and Bar Harbour, Maine. In 2006, the INCAT 046 was replaced by the HSC INCAT 059, which expanded its services to the Gulf of Maine to include routes between Portland and Bar Harbor, as well as Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, until 2009 when the ferry service was suspended. In 2016, The CAT came back with a new ship and route between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and Portland, Maine. The CAT maintained its Portland to Yarmouth passage until 2018 when its lease with the City of Portland expired. This newest and current vessel, a former Hawaiian super ferry, retained The CAT name but is a chartered ship from the US Navy operated by Bay Ferries.

The CAT will return to its native route between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, bringing passengers even closer to Maine’s stunning natural attractions such as Acadia National Park’s Cadillac Mountain, and Mount Desert Island, along with many more outdoor adventures.

Did You Know?

Length106 meters or 349 feet
Installed PowerFour MTU-8000 diesel engines
Top Speed43 knots or 51 miles per hour
Propulsion Four Rolls Royce KaMeWa 125 MkII water jets
Capacity866 passengers and 200 cars
Distance Between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia 98 nautical miles/181 kilometers/112 statute miles
NoteworthyThe CAT aided in two high sea rescues of Maine lobstermen in 2016