Aging ferries causing cancellations

By Connie Leinbach

In the last several weeks, Ocracoke Islanders who get notices from the N.C. Ferry Division regarding route operations have received more than the typical number of texts noting the cancelation of Pamlico Sound runs due to “mechanical issues.”

These unexpected cancelations can wreak havoc with islanders’ and visitors’ transportation plans.

Communications Officer for the NC Ferry Division Tim Hass said in an email that, simply, the ferry fleet is aging.

“And as a result, we are experiencing more frequent mechanical issues,” he said. “Due to the age of the vessels and the legacy equipment on board, sourcing and maintaining the appropriate replacement parts and inventory has become increasingly challenging.”

To help alleviate this, Hass said the division completed maintenance on a spare vessel, the “Swan Quarter,” which was expected to put back into service Dec. 19.

The “Swan Quarter” had sustained a bent propeller when it struck Big Foot Slough last week, he said, but the vessel that has primarily been impacted is the “Carteret,” which has had “various issues.”

Hass said the ages of the sound route ferries are as follows:
Silver Lake: 56 years
Carteret: 36 years
Cedar Island: 30 years
Swan Quarter: 13 years
Sea Level: 12 years

A new vessel to replace the “Silver Lake” is in the design phase, Hass said, but he did not have a date for when it would be finished because it is not fully funded. Depending on the design, this new boat will cost between $30 to $40 million, he said.

In September, the Ferry Division christened two new ferries at the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route in Havelock.

The Motor Vessel “Avon” and Motor Vessel “Salvo” are both river-class ferries, larger than the two Hatteras-class ferries they’re replacing, which are both more than 30 years old.

Hass said the NCDOT paid $12.1 million for the “Avon” and $11.3 million for the “Salvo.”

The two new ferries are part of an ongoing effort to upgrade and modernize the aging ferry fleet in order to reduce maintenance costs, according to a press release.

It’s possible that they may be used at the Hatteras-Ocracoke route at some point in the future since river-class ferries are moved around as needed when other vessels go into required drydock periods.