Emergency ferries operations begin, Hatteras-Ocracoke route running fewer boats

The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division began operating its emergency ferry route between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe and started a full schedule of runs on Wednesday morning because of the closure of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The division will be using four 180-foot River Class vessels to run the route, which takes two hours to complete. Maximum capacity will allow 760 single cars to cross each day, 380 from each side.

Starting today, the regular Stumpy Point-Rodanthe schedule will be as follows:
 
Departing Stumpy Point at 5 a.m., 6:30, 8, 9:30, 11, 12:30 p.m., 2, 3:30, 5, and 9:30.
Departing Rodanthe at 6 a.m., 7:30, 9, 10:30, Noon, 1:30 p.m, 3, 4:30, 6, and 7:30.
 
In addition, residents of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, as well as emergency personnel and vendors, will have tolls waived on Pamlico Sound routes between Ocracoke-Cedar Island and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter.
 
Unfortunately, the boats and crews needed for the emergency route will also mean fewer boats and crews for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route. The new schedule on that route, effective immediately, is as follows:
 
Departing Ocracoke: 5 a.m., 7, 9, 11, 1 p.m., 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
Departing Hatteras: 6 a.m., 8, 10, Noon, 2 p.m., 4, 6, 8, 10, and midnight.
 
Loading for the emergency ferry-route is on a first-come, first-served basis, but Dare County Emergency Management has the ability to establish priority loading procedures if the need arises.
 
Ferry information is available by calling 800-293-3779, or via Facebook (North Carolina Ferry System) and Twitter (@NCDOT_Ferry).