Two final claims against the owner of the Nova Star ferry, which operated between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, for two years, are in federal court this week.

Pratt Abbott dry cleaners argues that it is owed $195,000 for cleaning services and linens it bought for the cruise operation, and the city of Portland is seeking nearly $163,000 for facilities it installed at the Ocean Gateway terminal for the ferry.

Other claims filed by fuel suppliers, the Portland Pilots and others, which at one point totaled $2.6 million, were settled previously.

After two disappointing seasons and more than $40 million in subsidies from Canada, the operators of the ferry shut down last fall and a federal court ordered the ship seized to satisfy unpaid bills. The ship was eventually bought back by its builder, Singapore Technologies Marine, which reached settlements with many of its creditors and posted a bond to allow the ship to depart the city.

At last report, the ship was operating in the Strait of Gibraltar, carrying passengers and cargo between North Africa and Spain.

Bay Ferries Ltd. picked up the Maine-Nova Scotia route this summer with a high-speed catamaran ferry.

Pratt Abbott’s main claim, presented Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland, is for the linens, including sheets and cloth napkins, that the company purchased specifically for the Nova Star. Pratt Abbott argues that it’s now stuck with those goods and has little use for them. For instance, the company said it bought thousands of sheets for the twin beds in the Nova Star’s cabins, but most commercial operations that use linen services, such as hotels, need queen- or king-sized sheets.

The company is seeking $195,000 from ST Marine, which assumed the liabilities of the ferry operator when it bought back the ship at auction.

The Portland Development Corp., an economic development arm of the city, installed equipment and facilities at the Ocean Gateway terminal for the ferry, including a rented trailer to house Customs and Border Security operations, said Chuck Remmell, the lawyer representing the city.

He said ST Marine doesn’t appear to be disputing the amount the city claims it is owed – nearly $163,000 – but argues that a claim against the ship for shoreside facilities is not valid.

The case is being heard by Federal Judge D. Brock Hornby. It’s unclear when he might rule.

Edward S. MacColl, who is representing ST Marine, did not immediately return calls for comment Wednesday.

Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791-6465 or at:

emurphy@pressherald.com