ELIOT, Maine (AP) — A Maine company that wants to operate ferry service between Portland and Nova Scotia says it has an agreement to lease a new $165 million vessel and could start service this summer if it is awarded a contract.

Quest Navigation Inc. of Eliot is one of two companies proposing to operate the service between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Quest officials tell The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/Yjb5JG ) the vessel is 531-feet long, has 162 cabins, two restaurants and capacity for more than 1,200 passengers.

The other company, Baltimore-based Maritime Applied Physics Corp., is an engineering firm that specializes in designing electro-mechanical systems for harsh environments.

The Nova Scotia government is expected to decide this month whether to partner with one of the companies or issue another request for bids.

___