PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The company that operates the high-speed ferry that runs from Maine to Nova Scotia says it is shifting some of its marketing efforts this year to entice Canadians to travel to Maine.

In past years, Bay Ferries has focused mostly on getting Americans to use The Cat to get from Maine to Nova Scotia. But the relatively strong Canadian dollar is causing the company to shift some of its ad dollars to the Canadian market.

The Portland Press Herald says Bay Ferries is running print ads and television commercials in Nova Scotia promoting the attractions of Portland and Bar Harbor, the two Maine ports it serves.

The Cat, a 320-foot catamaran that travels at speeds up to 40 knots, arrived in Portland Thursday for its first visit of the season.