By Connie Leinbach
The NC Ferry Division routes across the Pamlico Sound have been temporarily reduced to the winter schedule, or two runs per day each to Swan Quarter and Cedar Island.
This is due propeller damage to the M/V Silver Lake, said NCDOT Spokesman Aaron Moody.
At this time of the year (spring), normally three boats run between the three islands, a division crew member said. Those are the Cedar Island, the Carteret and the Silver Lake. But with the Silver Lake damaged, the division has reverted back to its two-boat schedule.
Due to shoaling and low water conditions in Big Foot Slough, an area outside Ocracoke through which the ferries pass on both routes, the Division is not able to run the bigger, sound-class ferries (the Swan Quarter and the Sea Level) through that area, Moody said.
The Pamlico Sound runs now, according to the published schedule, are as follows:
Cedar Island to Ocracoke: 10:30 am & 4:30 pm
Ocracoke to Cedar Island: 7:30 am & 1 pm
Swan Quarter to Ocracoke: 10 am & 4:30 pm
Ocracoke to Swan Quarter: 7 am & 1:30 pm
Although the Ferry Division has not announced this reverting to the winter schedule in a press release, when using the online reservation system, some of the runs are blocked and cannot be reserved. In addition, the Ferry Division has sent out text notices on its FINS (text) system regarding the canceled runs.
Moody said the Silver Lake’s propeller damage occurred recently in Big Foot Slough.
The Silver Lake was stuck in this slough for more than 12 hours on March 6, and while the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) was able to widen it a bit the following day it wasn’t widened much. See graphic below. Moreover, the water level in the Sound is low, said another Ferry Division crew member.
It is unknown how long the Silver Lake will be out of commission, Moody said, because the damage has to be assessed, and a repair plan set. The Ferry Division will issue a press release when they have details on when the full schedule can resume.
He said an ACE dredge is scheduled to work in that area again on May 10 and the increased routes are scheduled to begin May 20.
Catherine Peele, deputy director for Maritime Operations and Programming for the NC Ferry Division, told the Ocracoke Waterways Commission on March 19 that the wind was a major factor in the Silver Lake getting stuck in the narrow slough in early March.
She called Ernie Doshier, a charter fishing boat captain who’s also chair of the Waterways Commission, and Randal Mathews, Ocracoke’s county commissioner, for help with hotel rooms and with delivering six pizzas from Jason’s to the boat.
Fighting high winds and waves, Doshier edged his skiff up to the stern while ferry crew member Harbor Early lay down on the edge of the ferry to grab the boxes.
“There was no hesitation from Ernie to deliver pizzas, no hesitation from Randal, who contacted the Pony Island Inn for hotel rooms,” Peele said. “When something like this happens, we all come together to solve it.”
As for the shoaling, the Dredge Murden cleared the area, and ferries were back in business the next afternoon.
But Peele showed survey graphics of the before and after, noting that the dredged area was not much wider than when the Silver Lake grounded. She said she would ask the ACE for additional dredging, especially with tourist season pending.
“We need more dredging, more consistent dredging, a better channel,” she said. “We cannot have this happen.”
She said the ferry’s keel cooler had been damaged in the grounding incident.
Hyde County Manager Kris Noble explained that she was able to get the permits needed for both Big Foot and the Hatteras Inlet before emergencies occur.
Ken Wilson of Coastal Protection Engineering told the group that that his firm, which works with Hyde and Dare counties and the ACE on dredging issues, is working on modifying their environmental documentation to allow dredging to find the “best water” in the area around Big Foot and Nine Foot Slough.
Ultimately, the Waterways Commission and the Ferry Division would like the Pamlico Sound route to travel via Nine Foot because it is a natural channel.
But until Nine Foot is sanctioned and permitted, which may happen later this year, the troublesome Big Foot Slough will still be in use.
Is the Silver Lake currently in Manns Harbor for repair? If so, how long has she been there? Any estimate on when how long it will take before she’s ready to return to service?
Not sure about that, but we will follow up on Monday.
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