Dredge Manteo Returning to Ocracoke

The North Carolina Ferry System's Dredge Manteo will be headed back to Ocracoke Thursday to repair severe shoaling in the ferry channel near the South Dock Terminal. Dredging will likely begin Sunday, with service interruptions on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route possible beginning this weekend and into next week.

"The dredge cleared the channel back in November," said Ferry Division Director Ed Goodwin. "But in the past two months, rapid shoaling has nearly filled it back in. We need to make these emergency repairs immediately while we pursue a more permanent solution."

The Dredge Manteo will arrive on site Thursday night and spend a day or two setting up before dredging operations begin. Dredging is expected to last about a week, with the Hatteras ferry route resuming normal operations after completion.

To stay up to date on any schedule interruptions, follow the Ferry Division on Twitter at @NCDOT_Ferry.