Halifax High Capacity Transit Study, (through LEA Consulting), for Halifax Regional Municipality 2003
This study examined the potential for rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) and high speed ferry services in Halifax Regional Municipality. It concluded that BRT and fast ferries were appropriate solutions to the Halifax context. The city has subsequently commissioned a full feasibility study to implement a high speed ferry service between Bedford and downtown within two years.

Sheshegwaning Ferry Service Preliminary Feasibility Study, (with Geoplan Consultants Inc and through BDO Dunwoody, Sudbury, Ont.), 2000
MariNova undertook to study the feasibility of a ferry service operating from Manitoulin Island across Lake Huron to a site in Michigan. The study identified several potential port locations on Manitoulin Island and one very good destination in Michigan.

Manitoulin Island Ferry Service Feasibility Study, Sheshegwaning First Nation (through BDO Dunwoody Ltd., with Geoplan Consultants Inc.), 2000
MariNova and the current president of Opus conducted a feasibility analysis for a cruise ferry operation between Manitoulin Island and the State of Michigan. It concluded that more tourists would be drawn to Mackinac City rather than Alpena, as a previous study had recommended. Ultimately, it was concluded that tourist traffic to and from Manitoulin Island was not of high enough volume to justify the investment. The proponents were also seeking more direct impacts on their Reserve than the ferry would have produced. .

Cape Breton-PEI Ferry Feasibility Study, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and Strait- Highlands Regional Development Authority, 1999-2000
As a follow up to a previous study done by Marine Atlantic Consultants, MariNova was hired to review the previous study and update certain aspects including vessel availability and the impact of the Confederation Bridge on the marketability of a Cape Breton-PEI ferry service.

Îles de la Madeleine Hovercraft Feasibility Study,[through Porter Dillon], 1998
With Porter Dillon, MariNova Consulting provided technical and marketing analysis of the feasibility of a hovercraft service serving the Magdalen Islands. Its familiarity with the North American ferry industry and industry trends worldwide allowed MariNova to provide the client with relevant cost and operational comparisons with comparable services. Through its network of contacts MariNova was able to provide the client with a number of vessel alternatives. Our experience in marketing ferry services in the Atlantic Region allowed us to provide relevant marketing and rate advice.

Market Assessment, 'Bluenose' Ferry Privatisation Bid Proposal [Secunda Marine Services Ltd.], 1995-96
MariNova provided marketing-related input to Secunda's bid to operate the privatised Marine Atlantic Bay of Fundy ferry service. Our contribution included a marketing and business development strategy.

'John Hamilton Gray' charter to Croisiéres Carleton Les Îles Inc., Carleton, Quebec [Marine Atlantic Consultants.], 1995
MariNova's principal acted as both broker and consultant to a fledgling Quebec company which chartered one of Marine Atlantic's ferries for use between the Gaspe peninsula and the Magdalen Islands. Our input included advice on marketing and both vessel and terminal operations.

'Atlantic Freighter' charter to Pandoro Line, U.K., division of P&O Ferries {Marine Atlantic Ltd.], 1995
MariNova's principal acted as chartering manager for Marine Atlantic Consultants in the charter of the M.V. Atlantic Freighter to Pandoro Line, to operate between Dublin, Ireland and Liverpool, England. Pandoro Line is a subsidiary of one of the largest and oldest transportation conglomerates in the world, Peninsular and Ocean Navigation Limited. We provided liason between the charterer and the owner, as well as input relative to worldwide charter rates for this type of vessel.

Port Hood, N.S. - Souris, PEI Ferry Service Feasibility Study [Enterprise Cape Breton Ltd.], 1995
MariNova's principal, along with Omnifact's Research and a Marine Atlantic colleague examined the feasibility of using a Marine Atlantic vessel which was normally tied up in the summer, to operate between Cape Breton and PEI in the summer months. The study concluded that the operation was feasible from a marketing, operations and financial standpoint.

Cruising Labrador Marine Eco-tourism Product,[Marine Atlantic Ltd.], 1992-93
After many years of making it as difficult as possible to accommodate tourists on its Labrador coastal service, MariNova's principal undertook an extensive capacity utilization study which concluded that the vessels were operating at 25% capacity. A marketing assessment concluded that a segment of the tourism market would pay substantially more than the published tariff for a packaged 'expedition' or adventure cruise. The result was the highly acclaimed and financially lucrative 'Cruising Labrador' program.

Fundy Service Travel Market Demand Study [Marine Atlantic Ltd.], 1992
After experiencing several years of market erosion on its Bay of Fundy ferry services Marine Atlantic undertook a Travel Market Demand study to determine why people either used or did not use its ferries. The resulting study, which was managed by MariNova's principal, changed the whole direction of the company's marketing to emphasize saving time, saving time behind the wheel and saving money. Scarce advertising resources were also re-allocated to billboards, travel guides and point-of-purchase locations, rather than magazine and newspaper advertising with long lead times.

Customer Satisfaction research program [for Marine Atlantic Ltd.], 1990-93
MariNova's principal also managed Marine Atlantic's customer satisfaction research program, which resulted in increasing emphasis being placed on quality hospitality service, rather than a bare-bones transportation experience. At the time, Marine Atlantic's customer research was unique in the Atlantic region.

Bluenose Ferry Schedule Reversal Impact Study [for Marine Atlantic], 1989
Tourism interests in the Yarmouth area had long clamoured for a reversal of the M.V. Bluenose schedule, whereby it would overnight in Yarmouth rather than Bar Harbor, Maine. The principal of MariNova managed the schedule reversal study conducted by DPA Consulting, which concluded that Marine Atlantic's revenue base would be adversely affected on many fronts by a change in schedule.

Negotiated contracts resulting in 19% increase in commercial traffic on Saint John -Digby ferry service, [for Marine Atlantic Ltd.], 1992
As Marine Atlantic became more commercially oriented, it began to seek out additional revenue streams and become more flexible in the way it set tariffs and extended service to large accounts. The principal of MariNova negotiated confidential contracts with several large accounts which resulted in substantial increase in both revenue and traffic.

Marine Atlantic Motorcoach and Commercial Vehicle Sales Programs, 1989-93
The principal of MariNova managed Marine Atlantic's motorcoach and commercial vehicle sales and liaison programs, and in so doing gained considerable insight into both of these sectors.

Annual rate proposals and traffic forecasts for Marine Atlantic, 1989-93
MariNova's principal managed the development of Marine Atlantic's annual rate proposals and traffic forecasts, which were presented to the company's senior management and Transport Canada. We developed several innovative pricing mechanisms.

Capacity utilization studies and break-even analyses for Marine Atlantic, 1992-93
MariNova's principal conducted several capacity utilization studies for Marine Atlantic which, in some cases, dispelled myths about the ability of the company to change policy, in the case of the Labrador service, or shoulder season schedules, in the case of the Bluenose service.

Halifax-St. John's ferry service feasibility study [Halifax-Dartmouth Port Development Commission], 1981
MariNova's principal conducted a pre-feasibility study for a ferry service to operate between the major markets of St. John's, Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was concluded that it would be impossible to compete with a very heavily subsidized government-owned service operated by Marine Atlantic, and that because it would operate in domestic waters, there was no opportunity to earn revenue from duty free sales, where European operators, whom we visited, earned upwards of 30% of their revenue.