The Army Corp of Engineers’ side caster dredge, the Merritt, arrived at Big Foot Slough in the Pamlico Sound today and will begin dredging, the North Carolina Ferry Division announced.
Shoaling in this channel outside of Ocracoke’s harbor caused the North Carolina Ferry Division to modify the ferry schedule between Ocracoke, Swan Quarter and Cedar Island on Saturday.
“We should actually be able to resume the regular schedule sooner than the seven to 10 days that was announced earlier today,” said Tim Hass, Ferry Division spokesman. “As soon as it gets deep enough for the M/V Sea Level to make it through, we will go back to the regular schedule.”
The current schedule until the channel is cleared will be as follows:
Ocracoke to Cedar Island: 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Cedar Island to Ocracoke: 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Ocracoke to Swan Quarter: 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Swan Quarter to Ocracoke: 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.