New Ferry on Board!

Yesterday, we cracked a ceremonial bottle of champagne over the bow of the Sound Class Motor Vessel Swan Quarter, the newest addition to the NC Ferry fleet.

Here are some fun ferry facts about this cruiser:

• It's 220-feet long;

• Carries 50 vehicles and 300 passengers on the Pamlico Sound routes from Swan Quarter and Cedar Island to Ocracoke;

•  Built by Orange Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas;

• Delivered to the shipyard in Manns Harbor in late October 2011;

• The new vessel meets the Americans With Disabilities Act by featuring an ADA-compliant elevator;

• Moves 25 percent faster than existing Sound Class boats; 

• Meets Environmental Protection Agency standards for diesel emissions; 

• Is the first of two sister ships that will join the division’s existing four Sound Class ferries;

• Continues the tradition of ferries being affiliated with state universities by showing the Elon University colors and logo.

During the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island routes carried more than 91,000 vehicles and 217,000 passengers between Ocracoke.

The new vessel will go into service as soon as it receives its Certificate of Inspection from the U. S. Coast Guard.

See more photos.