State To Lease Ocracoke Passenger Ferry Again This Year

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has signed legislation that will continue the operation of a passenger-only ferry that takes people from Hatters Island to Ocracoke Island. The Raleigh News & Observer reported Friday that the move will give Outer Banks visitors the option of taking a passenger-only ferry to Ocracoke for the third summer in a row. Other ferries carry people and their vehicles. The N.C. Department of Transportation will continue to lease a boat because the one it ordered remains unfinished. The legislation that Cooper signed this week provides $700,000 to lease and operate the boat from June 21 to Aug. 15, or until the state-owned ferry is ready.