Governor McCrory Announces Adjusted Ferry Schedule Due to Hurricane Matthew | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Manns Harbor, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory has directed the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division to move several of its ships out of harm's way as Hurricane Matthew moves closer to the southeastern coast. This will require alternate schedules on several ferry routes:

Southport-Fort Fisher:

    The M/V Fort Fisher is being moved to safe harbor in Cherry Branch. The route will begin a one-boat schedule effective immediately:

    From Southport (Weekdays): 7:45 a.m., 9:15, 10:45, 12:15 p.m., 1:45, 3:15, 4:45, 6:15.

    From Fort Fisher (Weekdays): 8:30 a.m., 10, 11:30, 1 p.m., 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7.

    From Southport (Weekends): 9:15 a.m., 10:45, 12:15 p.m., 1:45, 3:15, 4:45, 6:15.

    From Fort Fisher (Weekends): 10 a.m., 11:30, 1 p.m., 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7.

Hatteras-Ocracoke:

    Ocracoke Island remains under a mandatory evacuation order for visitors. Only residents, property owners, vendors, and critical infrastructure providers with proper documentation will be allowed access to Ocracoke Island. So far, ferries have evacuated more than 1,100 people from Ocracoke.

    On Thursday and Friday, the ferry division will move several of its Hatteras ferries to safe harbor in Manns Harbor and Cherry Branch. As of Friday, Oct. 7, the Hatteras-Ocracoke route will run a limited schedule:

    From Hatteras: 5 a.m., 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, noon, 1 p.m., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, midnight.

    From Ocracoke: 4:30 a.m., 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 p.m., 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30, 12:30 a.m.

Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach:

    This route is currently not operating due to high water levels on the Neuse River.

    All other routes will run their regular schedules as long as weather conditions permit.

    For real-time updates on schedule changes, follow the North Carolina Ferry System on Twitter at @NCDOT_Ferry.