The North Carolina Ferry Division (NCDOT) will christen the M/V Rodanthe – the new river-class vehicular ferry for the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route –on Friday, June 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hatteras ferry docks.
The Ocracoke Observer reports that Hyde County Manager Kristen Cahoon Noble will do the christening honors for the new river class ferry, which is the first new vehicular ferry for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route in 13 years.
The new ferry will replace the 22-year-old M/V Thomas A. Baum, (but will retain its North Carolina State University colors), and is part of an ongoing effort by the N.C. Ferry Division to phase out the smaller Hatteras-class ferries with larger river-class vessels, which can accommodate more vehicles.
Meanwhile, the M/V Thomas A. Baum will remain in service for the next several years until its scheduled maintenance and return to dry dock, which occurs twice every five years for all state ferries.
The M/V Rodanthe is the first new ferry for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route since 2006, when the M/V Hatteras was christened, and is the first new ferry for all of the state’s seven routes since the M/V Sea Level was put into service in May, 2012.
Parking for the event is available at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum adjacent to the ferry terminal. Attendees are requested not to park in the passenger ferry parking lot.
