PORTLAND (AP) – A Canadian transport company’s bid of just over $11 million for a cargo ship that has been detained in Portland Harbor since July awaits approval by a federal judge.

A sale would clear the way for the 393-foot Shamrock to be put back to work moving freight containers.

As the only container ship serving Portland, the Shamrock’s seizure has idled the city’s cargo terminal.

Vrege Armoyan, who represented Clarke Inc. at an auction Friday, said the ship may run between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Portland again.

“We have a bunch of alternatives. Nothing’s finalized yet,” Armoyan said. “It will be one of the options we have. We are seriously looking at that.”

Jack Humeniuk, who manages Portland’s container operations, said he hopes Clarke’s plans include a return to Portland but that the company doesn’t appear to have any local business agreements.

“If you spent $11 million on a ship, wouldn’t you have talked to somebody ahead of time?” Humeniuk said. “I don’t think he’s talked to anybody on this trade route. I just think that they probably have a deal someplace else for this ship.”

U.S. marshals seized the ship when it arrived for its weekly visit to Portland on July 20. Fortis Bank of the Netherlands had filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court saying the ship’s owner failed to make payments on a $14.3 million debt.

Two bidders, Clarke Inc. and Fortis Bank, made offers for the ship during the brief auction.

Companies such as White Rock Distilleries in Lewiston and Jotul USA Inc. in Portland faced disruptions after the Shamrock was seized.

Elmer Alcott, vice president of Nappi Distributors in Portland, said he hopes the sale means his company’s imported beer will soon be coming to Portland’s waterfront again. “It’s great to use Portland,” he said. “That’s our home port.”