Nova Star ferry's winter quarters cost additional $2.5M

The Nova Scotia government has provided the company that runs the Nova Star ferry out of Yarmouth an additional $2.5 million. The money is meant to cover the costs associated with the ferry'swinter berthing fees in South Carolina, according to a news release on Sunday.

In addition to the berthing fees, the $2.5 million covers fuel and staffing to move the ferry down to South Carolina over the winter.

The additional money brings the government's total investment in the Yarmouth ferry to $28.5 million.

The Nova Scotia government released a $16,000, eight-page review of the expenditures for the heavily subsidized Nova Star ferry last Thursday.

The accounting firm KPMG found "there is nothing to report" but blacked out figures detailing start-up expenditures for the Yarmouth ferry.

The Liberals hired the accountants afterthe ferry blew through a seven-year, $21 million provincial government subsidy in a matter of months.

In October the Liberals said KPMG would audit Nova Star costs "looking for savings and will advise on a plan [for] future years."