Pamlico Sound ferries on reduced schedule temporarily
Ferries on the Pamlico Sound routes are on another temporary adjustment, which started Monday.
The schedule for these ferries for approximately two weeks will be as follows:
- Cedar Island to Ocracoke: 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Ocracoke to Cedar Island: 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Ocracoke to Swan Quarter: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Swan Quarter to Ocracoke: 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The schedule reduction is for scheduled maintenance that was delayed this fall.
“The two-boat schedule will go on until the Carteret returns to service, which will likely be within the next two weeks,” said Tim Hass, Ferry Division spokesman, in an email.
The Carteret is having its transmission rebuilt, he said, something the division had planned to do in the fall but was delayed in order to serve Ocracoke in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
“Both the Swan Quarter and Silver Lake are in their ‘credited dry dock’ periods, which is required twice every five years by the Coast Guard,” he said. “The idea is to make sure we have all the boats we need to operate the summer schedule when the time comes.”
As for the resumption of 7 a.m. departures to Swan Quarter, Hass said that is unknown because the dormitory on Ocracoke was damaged in Hurricane Dorian Sept. 6 and is being rebuilt.
“We don’t have a schedule at this point as to when those repairs will be completed,” he said. “However, we are in the process of working with Hyde County and FEMA to find temporary employee housing that would enable us to resume the 7 a.m. departure to Swan Quarter.”
