Sportfishing boat collides with ferry in Hatteras Inlet

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, the sport fishing vessel Reel Deal collided with the North Carolina ferry M/V Stanford White in the Barney Slough area of Hatteras Inlet as the ferry was on a scheduled run between Hatteras and Ocracoke.

The captain of the M/V White immediately ordered the crew to check on ferry passengers and to render assistance to the Reel Deal. No injuries on either vessel were reported, and the ferry was not damaged. The M/V White then returned to Hatteras under its own power, while the Reel Deal was towed to a marina in Buxton.

The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted immediately and is conducting an investigation.