I boarded the brand new ferry, M/V Swan Quarter on her maiden passenger-carrying voyage to Cedar Island in Carteret County.
Departing just ahead of us was the M/V Carteret bound for Swan Quarter. If you've lived on Ocracoke a while, this all makes perfect sense. If you're a first-time visitor, heaven help you!
It being mid-winter and all, there were only a half dozen cars on the ferry and I doubt if any of the other passengers, all apparently just passing through, were aware of the historic significance of the ride.
But with great effort I refrained from whooping with enthusiasm and just took it all in, along with a few snapshots and jotted notes. My wife would rather have a root canal than to take a round-trip ride on the ferry but I'm one of those folks who just can't pass up a chance to get on a boat. The first thing to impress me upon driving aboard was the immense size and sparkling cleanliness. Stainless steel piping and railings were everywhere. When I entered the spacious passenger lounge it was like climbing into a brand new automobile. The “new car” smell is almost overpowering, probably from the upholstery and flooring tiles.
As we backed out of the slip I was impressed with how smooth and quiet the engines were. There was almost none of the vibration you'd associate with a ferry ride. I flagged down a uniformed deck hand and asked him to inform the captain that I would like to visit the bridge to take pictures and notes for a news piece. A short time later the captain, my good friend Jackie Willis, came down and greeted me apologetically. This being his first day on the new vessel, they were having some issues with the Global Positioning System, which was currently being looked at by a technician. The bridge was a busy place and unsuited for visitors.
When I asked what the main difference was between this one and the older ferries, Jackie explained that, aside from larger engines and a foot deeper draft, the main difference was the new ferry's capacity for loading long trucks straight on and straight off without any turns or backing and filling. Needless to say, the vessel is equipped with all the latest digital electronic systems including surveillance cameras to keep the crew alert to what's happening throughout the ship.
There's an elevator (that works, no less) as well as numerous stairwells and corridors. I had quite a hike before I was able to locate the vending machines, which I fully expected to find either out of order or stocked with torn packages of stale snacks – but that turned out not to be the case. After all, this is a brand new ferry. The machines had yet to be filled! Fortunately, I'd packed a sandwich and something cold to drink.
Before I knew it, we were pulling into Cedar Island. With an hour to kill, I drove down to the Variety Store and was amazed at the vast assortment of groceries, hardware and marine supplies they stock. Then, returning to the ferry terminal, I left the car in line and went for a long stroll on the Pamlico Sound beach.
On the return trip I met a retired couple from West Virginia. “You might not know it,” I told them, “but you're making history! This is the first time this vessel has carried passengers on this route.”
The woman was delighted. “I'll write that in my journal!” she said.
And this is only the half of it. A twin sister named M/V Sea Level is scheduled to join the fleet in May. Stay tuned!
