| Number of ferries: | 24 |
|---|---|
| Regular Routes: | -Currituck to Knott's Island -Hatteras to Ocracoke -Swan Quarter to Ocracoke -Cedar Island to Ocracoke -Bayview to Aurora -Cherry Branch to Minnesott Beach -Southport to Fort Fisher |
| Emergency Route: | -Stumpy Point to Rodanthe |
The North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division is a branch of NCDOT that is responsible for the operation of over two dozen ferry services that transport passengers and vehicles to several islands along the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Three other inland, cable ferries — the Elwell Ferry, Parker's Ferry and Sans Souci Ferry — continue in operation, under the oversight of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
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Ferries have always played a vital role to the residents and visitors of Eastern North Carolina. The first ferries began in the mid-1920s when Captain J.B.(Toby)Tillett established a tug and barge service across Oregon Inlet along North Carolina's Outer Banks.
In 1934, the North Carolina Highway Commission recognized the importance of this service to residents and began subsidizing Tillett's business. These subsidies kept tolls at an affordable level. In 1942, the Highway Commission began full reimbursement to eliminate the tolls. Tillett was fully subsidized until 1950 when his business was sold to the state.
In 1947, the Commission purchased the ferry operations of T.A. Baum, who operated a route that ran across Croatan Sound and linked Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island. This became the first route of the N.C. Ferry System.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division extends over seven routes, one emergency route, has 24 ferries and employs over 400 workers. The operations are supported by a full service shipyard, dredge, military-style landing craft utility vehicles (LCU's), tugs, barges, and other support vessels.
Each year, North Carolina ferries transport over 1.1 million vehicles and more than 2.5 million passengers across five separate bodies of water - the Currituck and Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers.
Ferries also carry essential goods to water-locked communities. Many residents depend on the ferries for transportation to school, work, and other needed services.
The North Carolina Ferry System operates several Hatteras Class ferries. These Vessels draft less than 4 feet, and are designed for the shallow waters and shifting shoals of Eastern North Carolina. The Thomas A. Baum was built at the Steiner Shipyards in Bayou La Batre, AL and was delivered to the North Carolina Department of Transportation on June 13, 1995. It is powered by two Detroit Diesel 12V71 DDECs each rated at 500 HP.
| Ferry Name | Conrad Wirth | Ocracoke | Bonner | Chicamacomico | Cape Point | Kinnakeet | Frisco | Roanoke | Thomas A. Baum |
| Vehicle Capacity: | 22 | 30 | 22 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Passenger Capacity: | 100 | 149 | 100 | 149 | 149 | 149 | 149 | 149 | 149 |
| Gross Ton: | 199 | 275 | 199 | 275 | 275 | 280 | 275 | 248 | 248 |
| Length: | 122' | 150' | 112' | 150' | 150' | 150' | 150' | 150' | 150' |
| Breadth: | 40' | 42' | 40' | 42' | 42' | 42' | 42' | 42' | 42' |
| Draft: | 3'6" | 4' | 3'6" | 4' | 4' | 4' | 4' | 4' | 4' |
The Ferry System operates several River Class ferries. These boats are designed for heavy, abusive use, and are double-ended, meaning they do not have to turn around at the docks. This feature saves time on busy river routes. The Croatoan was built by Steiner Shipyards in Bayou La Batre, AL and was delivered to the North Carolina Department of Transportation on August 1, 2003. It and the Neuse are powered by two Caterpillar 3412 engines each rated at 475 HP and are propelled by two Voith-Schneider 16G11/100 vertical four blade propellers. The Neuse was delivered on April 13, 1998. The Floyd J. Lupton was also built in the Steiner Shipyards was delivered on February 15, 1994, and is powered by two Caterpillar 3408 engines each rated at 470 HP.
| Ferry Name | Daniel Russell | Southport | Neuse | Floyd J. Lupton | Fort Fisher | Croatoan | Stanford White | James B. Hunt |
| Vehicle Capacity: | 42 | 42 | 42 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 20 |
| Passenger Capacity: | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 149 |
| Gross Ton: | 418 | 424 | 374 | 374 | 374 | 376 | 372 | 462 |
| Length: | 180' | 180' | 180' | 180' | 180' | 180' | 180' | 125' |
| Breadth: | 44' | 44' | 44' | 44' | 44' | 44' | 44' | 40' |
| Draft" | 6' | 6' | 6' | 6' | 6' | 5'6" | 5'6" | 5' |
The North Carolina Ferry System operates five Sound Class ferries. These ferries are the largest in the system, able to carry up to 50 cars. These Ferries are designed to withstand the abuse of constantly traversing the shallow, turbulent waters of the Pamlico Sound. The Sound Class ferries are valued in excess of $5 million each.
| Ferry Name | Silver Lake | Pamlico | Carteret | Swan Quarter | Cedar Island |
| Vehicle Capacity: | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Passenger Capacity: | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Gross Ton: | 688 | 771 | 771 | 771 | 648 |
| Length: | 220' | 220' | 220' | 220' | 220' |
| Breadth: | 48' | 50' | 50' | 50' | 50' |
| Draft" | 6' | 6' | 6'6" | 6'6" | 6'6" |
| Route | Currituck | Stumpy Point | Hatteras | Swan Quarter | Cedar Island | Bayview | Cherry Branch | Southport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knotts Island | Rodanthe | Ocracoke | Ocracoke | Aurora | Minnesott Beach | Fort Fisher | ||
| Crossing time | 45 min. | 1.75 hours | 40 min. | 2.5 hours | 2.25 hours | 30 min. | 20 min. | 30 min. |
| Fare | Free | Free | Free | Toll | Toll | Free | Free | Toll |
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