The Nova Star, the new ferry between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, failed an announced federal health inspection on July 13 and received some of the lowest grades of any passenger ship visiting U.S. shores over the past two years.
The ferry operator has since corrected nearly all the violations.
Additional Images
Inspectors from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the ship a score of 52 out of a possible 100. It was the second-lowest score given during a period over which the agency inspected more than 150 passenger ships, primarily cruise ships.
A score below 85 is considered failing. Ships that fail an inspection are always reinspected and may not be allowed to sail if there is an imminent threat to public safety.
The agency found 44 violations – most of them small – on the Nova Star, mostly for failing to follow procedures or not having proper documentation. For example, the ferry did not have a written or electronic plan for pest management, and the staff did not keep a log of pest sightings. A worker was observed cutting vegetables while wearing a wristwatch. In the kitchen, the meat carving station had warming lights in which the bulbs extended beyond the surrounding light shield. Also, the bulbs were not shatter-resistant.
Mark Amundsen, CEO and president of Nova Star Cruises Ltd., which operates the ferry, said in a statement on Monday that the ship was constructed to European standards, and the report pointed out some items that require modification to meet U.S. standards.
The inspection report is preventative in nature, he said. “Our kitchen and galley are spotless, and there have been no reported food-borne illnesses during our entire season. We welcome the CDC’s input and advice as we go forward.”
The agency on Aug. 20 posted a follow-up report that showed the ferry operator had addressed nearly all of the violations. For a handful of violations that have not been corrected, the ferry staff was either looking for replacement parts, awaiting the delivery of parts or is planning to purchase new equipment during the off season.
Federal inspectors are planning a second, unannounced inspection of the Nova Star, said Bernadette Burden, a spokesperson for Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency’s Vessel Sanitation Program works with the cruise ship industry to prevent and control the introduction, transmission and spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.
After an inspection, the agency posts a score that takes into account the number of violations and the severity. It is not unusual for inspectors to find a large number of violations. The Brilliance of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International ship visiting Portland five times this year, had a passing score of 97 when it was inspected in January. Still, inspectors found 42 violations.
There have been no reports of outbreaks of illnesses aboard the Nova Star.
The Nova Star, which began service on May 15, is considered a cruise ship because it carries at least 13 passengers and has a foreign itinerary with U.S. ports.
FleetPro Passenger Ship Management, based in Miami, has a contract to handle technical and hotel services on the ferry.
Copy the Story Link
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.