The Spirit of Ontario has been sold to a British firm that plans on using the debt-ridden vessel on the English Channel, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported Friday. And that will leave the New York state city saddled with a $20-million US debt.

City council there was expected to sign off on the $29.8-million US deal on Friday, giving possession of the $32-million US ship to Euroferries Ltd., which will run the vessel between Dover, England, and Boulogne, France.

The Spirit of Ontario will now be making the Channel run between England and France. (CBC photo: Peter McCluskey)

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy had announced on Jan. 10 that a third season for the Spirit of Ontario would not happen after two financially poor years.

"I will not authorize the bonding of $11.5 million [US], to continue operation of the fast ferry," said Duffy at that time. "The City of Rochester will no longer be in the ferry business."

The five-storey catamaran had been plagued by financial problems almost from the start.

Originally a privately owned venture, the Toronto-Rochester line suffered its first blow before it even began service when an accident damaged the ship. That 2004 season was later cut short by financial problems.

Rochester took over the service for 2005, but was unable to make a financial go of it. A major problem arose when the ferry could not get a licence to carry trucks across the lake.

The Toronto Port Authority, which now has a ferry landing with no ferry to service it, said the ship had handled over 250,000 passengers and 38,000 vehicles in its two seasons.