The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry departures between Hatteras and Ocracoke are cancelled until further notice owing to mechanical issue the North Carolina Ferry Division reported on July 27.
It remains cancelled today (July 28). Pre-paid passengers are being notified and refunded.
For updates, contact the Hatteras Ferry office: 252-996-6000
The regular summer Ocracoke/Hatteras Ferry Schedule is running for July 28.
The new “Ocracoke Express” was inaugurated on May 16 and made its maiden voyage to Ocracoke the next day.
This is the original $4.15 million ferry built in Hubert by the former US Workboats that was expected to begin service between Hatteras and Ocracoke Village in the spring of 2018.
After construction delays, NCDOT set a new date for the spring of 2019, but the boat under construction flunked the U.S. Coast Guard inspection.
After that, the Ferry Division rented a catamaran-style boat from Seastreak out of New Jersey for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 tourist seasons.
Meanwhile, US Workboats, the former boatbuilder, sued the Ferry Division claiming breach of contract and defamation.
“All that was dismissed,” Tim Hass, Ferry Division spokesman, said on May 16 after a ceremony to launch the real “Ocracoke Express” at the Hatteras terminal. Hyde County Manager Kris Noble broke the champagne bottle on it.
Hass said the boat was completed by Waterline Systems, who took over for US Workboats (formerly known as Armstrong Marine Inc.) in Hubert, near Swansboro.
We are so sorry to hear this, and have contacted the NCDOT to see how we can help. Mechanical issues fall under the purview of the equipment manufacturer, but we stand ready to support our customer and hope we can help resolve this issue quickly.
Ouch, that hurts…
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