As of 4:30 Monday (April 18), the ferries from Hatteras to Ocracoke are still suspended due to the weather. Monday was the third day that ferries on this route were suspended for various amounts of time.
Stay tuned to the Hatteras ferry’s Twitter feed for when runs will resume or call the Hatteras ferry terminal at 252-996-6000. The Hatteras ferry suspended operations on Sunday due to high winds and shoaling.
Ferry Division Spokesman Tim Hass said on Monday that as soon as weather permits, the side caster dredge Merritt will return to work in the Sloop Channel where a dredge, tugboat and ferry got stuck on Saturday for several hours. He hoped that once this storm system has passed, the dredge could get back to work no later than Thursday.
“The more it’s out there, the better conditions get,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll be able to run river class ferries by this weekend, but, hopefully, the Hatteras class boats will be able to pass more easily after a few days of dredging.”
But he said the dredge will continue to work so that river class-size ferries, which hold more cars than the Hatteras class boats, can get through.
As for making sure people who want to get here for the weekend activities – Runfest, the Ocracoke Waterfowl Festival and Portsmouth Homecoming – and don’t need their vehicles while in the village, he noted that the Pamlico Sound ferries from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter are an alternative.
These ferries charge fees each way (beginning with the lowest of $15) while the Hatteras ferry is free. To make reservations, click here.
A check with these routes show that spaces are available on various runs through the week.
“My office is in Manteo, and I can get to Swan Quarter faster than I can to Hatteras in the tourist season,” Hass said.
Wednesday, April 20
Ocracoke Community Library (inside the Deepwater Theater): Storytime. 10 am.
Ocracoke Waterways Commission, 6:30 pm. Ocracoke Community Center. At this meeting, the group will decide a chair and co-chair, said Ocracoke’s county commissioner Randal Mathews. There’s no other agenda.
Friday, April 22
Book signing. Jim White, author of several books on Portsmouth Island, will be at the Ocracoke Preservation Society., 5 pm
Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority, 9 am. Ocracoke Community Center.
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray
The Breeze: Martin Garrish & Friends, 8 pm
Saturday, April 23
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray
Ocracoke Waterfowl Festival, 9 am to 5 pm at the Berkeley Manor Barn and grounds.
Portsmouth Homecoming, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Scallywag 5K/10K: 8 a.m. at 1718 Brewing Ocracoke. www.runsignup.com/Race/NC/Ocracoke/OcracokeIsland10K5K
The Breeze: Ocracoke Rockers, 9 pm.
Sunday, April 24
Scallywag half-marathon begins at 7 am at 1718 Brewing Ocracoke.www.runsignup.com/Race/NC/Ocracoke/OcracokeIsland10K5K
