North Carolina Ferry System

North Carolina Ferry System Ferries have played a vital role to residents and visitors of Eastern North Carolina and they are an important part of our coastal history. Today, the N.C.
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The Official page of the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division, which extends over seven routes, has 21 ferries and employs over 400 workers. Ferry transportation began in the mid-1920's when Captain J.B. (Toby) Tillett established tug and barge service across Oregon Inlet along North Carolina's Outer Banks. Department of Transportation's Ferry Division extends ove

r seven routes, has 21 ferries and employs over 400 workers. The operations are supported by a full service shipyard, dredge, tugs, barges, and other support vessels. Each year, North Carolina ferries transport over 1.1 million vehicles and more than 2.5 million passengers across five separate bodies of water - the Currituck and Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers. Posts to this site, in connection with the transaction of public business, are subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. It is the policy of NCDOT and the NC Ferry System not to delete, alter or otherwise censor any posts to this page. Nor is it our policy to prohibit anyone from posting. We welcome the vibrant exchange of ideas, opinions, and thoughts. However, we do monitor all our social media sites and we do make exception for posts that use profanity or are personally threatening. Posts containing such content are subject to removal and the user may be blocked from our sites.

We want to thank everyone who came out to attend our Ferry Tolling Implementation Listening Sessions in Beaufort, Pamlic...
09/04/2026

We want to thank everyone who came out to attend our Ferry Tolling Implementation Listening Sessions in Beaufort, Pamlico and Currituck counties this week, and remind those in Dare and Hyde counties that sessions will be held in Hatteras on Sept. 8 and in Ocracoke Sept. 9.

Also, please remember to go to our ferry tolling web page and fill out the survey by Sept. 14. There is also a phone number and email address to leave questions and comments as well. Thanks again for your input!

https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/ferry/Pages/ferry-tolls.aspx

Just a reminder: Our public listening sessions about new ferry tolls required by law begin tomorrow. Please come out and...
08/31/2026

Just a reminder: Our public listening sessions about new ferry tolls required by law begin tomorrow. Please come out and let us know your questions, comments and concerns. If you cannot make one of the meetings, log onto https://bit.ly/4A6vREH and let us know your thoughts!

We're happy to announce that we've received a $28.2 million federal grant to replace deteriorating steel bulkhead at the...
08/26/2026

We're happy to announce that we've received a $28.2 million federal grant to replace deteriorating steel bulkhead at the Cherry Branch Terminal! This critical project will help protect the shoreline and support ferry operations there long term. Details: https://bit.ly/4cdtTIa

Got questions, comments or concerns about the implementation of the new ferry tolls required by law? We want to hear fro...
08/20/2026

Got questions, comments or concerns about the implementation of the new ferry tolls required by law? We want to hear from you! Come to one of our five coastal listening sessions, send an email to [email protected], call 984-205-6615 *code 10744, or fill out the survey at https://publicinput.com/ferry-tolling. The public comment period runs through September 14.

Ocracoke residents and property owners! Last week, Ferry Division staff met with Hyde County and State Emergency Managem...
08/19/2026

Ocracoke residents and property owners! Last week, Ferry Division staff met with Hyde County and State Emergency Management officials to review and discuss re-entry processes after a storm or other emergency.

The tropics have been quiet for us so far this year (knock on wood), but as we get into peak season, we also would like to remind you about Hyde County's re-entry permit program. The permits help to make for a orderly and prioritized return when emergency conditions restrict access to the island.

For more information and to apply for your re-entry permit, go to https://cms2.revize.com/revize/hydecounty/departments/ocracoke_re-entry_permit_information.php

Let's all hope you won't need them!

NCDOT is now required by law to establish and start collecting tolls on all ferry routes by Jan. 1, 2027. We now have a ...
08/18/2026

NCDOT is now required by law to establish and start collecting tolls on all ferry routes by Jan. 1, 2027. We now have a web page set up to explain what that means for you, along with five public listening sessions scheduled in Washington, Grantsboro, Knotts Island, Hatteras and Ocracoke. The public is invited to provide public comment on ferry tolling in person or online from Aug. 17-Sept. 14.

For more details, visit the web page: https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/ferry/Pages/ferry-tolls.aspx

08/14/2026

There's no place like home, and for our NC Ferries, that home is at the State Shipyard in Manns Harbor. The Shipyard sits on 17.2 acres, and is the largest state-owned and state-operated shipyard in the U.S.

The shipyard is where our ferries go for major inspections, overhauls, structural repairs and painting. It's why all our ferries have the words 'Manns Harbor, NC' painted on them as their home port, even if they spend their time at Hatteras, Southport, Cherry Branch, Ocracoke or on another route.

Over the next few Fridays, we're going to give you a virtual tour of our facility, and show you the people, the work, and the fascinating technology that keeps our ferry system running. We hope you'll enjoy this look 'behind the scenes.'

On this day in 1789, Congress passed the Lighthouse Act, which built and supported lighthouses, buoys and piers. To cele...
08/07/2026

On this day in 1789, Congress passed the Lighthouse Act, which built and supported lighthouses, buoys and piers. To celebrate National Lighthouse Day, take a look at the five NC lighthouses you can spot on a North Carolina Ferry! (Hatteras is currently under wraps being restored).

It's a sweet weekend to visit Ocracoke, as the annual Fig Festival kicks off Friday at the Berkley Barn! Fig cake, fig p...
08/06/2026

It's a sweet weekend to visit Ocracoke, as the annual Fig Festival kicks off Friday at the Berkley Barn! Fig cake, fig preserves, fig beer... you can even buy a fig tree! We're getting hungry just thinking about it, so why not hop on a ferry for a fig-tastic Ocracoke weekend!

On August 4, 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, which authorized the construction of ten revenue c...
08/04/2026

On August 4, 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, which authorized the construction of ten revenue cutters, the beginnings of what would eventually become the U.S. Coast Guard. Today, the USCG is a critical part of all maritime safety and rescue in the U.S., and we salute all the men and women who play such a vital role in life on the North Carolina coast!

Address

8550 Shipyard Road
Manns Harbor, NC
27953

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