Dredging to occur in the channels of Hatteras Inlet this coming week

The US Army Corps of Engineers’ sidecaster dredge, the Merritt, will arrive in Hatteras on Saturday, April 2, and is expected to conduct up to 21 days of dredging in the troublesome Connecting Channel, (or South Ferry Channel), per multiple reports.

“According to plans, we should have [the dredge] here for about three weeks, depending on the weather,” said Dare County Waterways Commission Chairman Steve “Creature” Coulter in an emailed update.  “I can tell you that our county officials were instrumental in making this happen… The Coast Guard has also been a large contributor in getting this done, so don’t forget to thank [them] for what they do!”

Dredging the channels of Hatteras Inlet has been a concern for the past few months, as shoaling has resulted in dangerous and sometimes impassable conditions, affecting commercial and charter fishermen, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry operations, and mariners who launch from Hatteras village.

Two long-term initiatives are also in the works to make dredging the channels of the inlet easier, which includes the expected summertime arrival of Dare County’s own dredge, Miss Katie, as well as the approval of the Rollison Channel Realignment project.

The Island Free Press will continue to post updates on the dredging operations as they occur.