MANTEO – The N.C. Ferry Division issued the following statement about the General Assembly’s passage Tuesday of
Senate Bill 449, which appropriated $7 million for the state Ferry System this fiscal year.
"We are thankful that the North Carolina General Assembly voted to appropriate nonrecurring funds that are critical for the Ferry Division,” said Jed Dixon, director of the N.C. Ferry Division. “This funding will help pay for a U.S. Coast Guard-required drydock, enable us to pay for the necessary preventive maintenance for our vessels, help address our marine infrastructure and allow for dredging. These funds will also prevent the cuts the ferry service could have faced and help ensure we can continue to provide our customers with the services they expect without reducing our schedules.”
The following is a breakdown of the ferry appropriations from Senate Bill 449:
- $4 million in nonrecurring funds that will allow the N.C. Ferry Division to complete the U.S. Coast Guard’s required vessel maintenance projects. The Coast Guard requires that each of the Ferry System’s 23 vessels undergo regular, thorough inspections to ensure the ferries are up to standards. Maintaining the fleet ensures departures are reliable and on schedule.
- $3 million in nonrecurring funds for a variety of necessary maintenance projects across the entire Ferry System.