Ferry crew honored for charter boat rescue

The North Carolina Board of Transportation today awarded the crew of the N.C. Ferry Divison’s M/V Swan Quarter with an Extra Mile Award for its actions responding to a fire on a nearby charter vessel in July.

The Swan Quarter had just departed Ocracoke when it received a distress call just before 2 p.m. on July 5 from the Sea Doodle, a local charter boat, saying the boat was on fire.

Captain David Gaskill immediately altered course to go to the aid of the burning boat. With the rest of the ferry crew standing by on the Swan Quarter’s fire hoses, crew members Taylor Daniels and Bobby Martin used a rescue boat to deliver fire extinguishers to the Sea Doodle, which enabled the charter’s crew to put out the fire.

The Coast Guard arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and the ferry returned to its scheduled service.

“This crew used its extensive training to avert a potentially tragic situation on the water”, said N.C. Ferry Division Director Ed Goodwin. “The crew’s quick response prevented a dangerous and life-threatening situation from getting out of control.”

Receiving the award today were Gaskill, Daniels, and Martin, along with fellow crew members Jeremy Mooney, Benji Hart, Mitchell Russell and Joe Young.