A last minute deal sees 55 of Harbour Ferry ownership sold to the Ralmax group who were able to get a muchneeded lease agreement signed with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Victoria Harbour Ferry Service won't cease operations afterall.
In a last minute deal Harbour Ferry president and CEO Barry Hobbis sold 55% interest in his 30-year-old service to the Ralmax Group -- representing 11 different companies around Victoria's upper harbour.
Hobbis announced Friday his company would have to fold after a lease agreement could not be worked out with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
But Ralmax Co-CEO, Sage Berryman,says they were able to reach a lease agreement with the GVHA:
"There are some long standing relationships between ... we know the GVHA quite well and we are familiar with the management team at the Harbour Ferry. So it was a matter of just getting everyone together. And I think sometimes just having an external persepective on leases and things like that help move it through. So we were able to reach a compromise that works for everybody and make sure things colulkd keep going."
Hobbis will continue to manage day-to-day operations -- the little ferries will contiue to make stops throughout Victoria Harbour, including Fisherman's Wharf.
The value of the deal has not been released.