Construction has begun on a new passenger only ferry that will take visitors from Hatteras to Ocracoke Village. The ferry is expected to be operational by Memorial Day weekend 2018.
As the summer travel season starts to pick up, tourist exploring the Outer Banks usually plan a day trip to the charming community of Ocracoke. The island is only accessible by boat and that’s part of the appeal. But getting there has become somewhat of a challenge due to routes that are safer but take longer. Wait times during the peak season have increased to nearly two hours.
Now, the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division is one step closer to easing summer congestion. They announced last week a $4.2 million dollar contract was awarded to Armstrong Marine Inc. of Port Angeles, Washington for the construction of a 98 passenger catamaran style ferry to be built in the company’s eastern shipyard in Swansboro. Jared Brumbaugh spoke with Communications Officer with the Ferry Division Tim Hass about the passenger only ferry service that will run four round trips per day to the most popular spot on Ocracoke Island.
