Cape May–Lewes Ferry
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Locale | US 9, North Cape May, New Jersey and Lewes, Delaware |
---|---|
Waterway | Delaware Bay |
Transit type | Passenger/automobile ferry |
Owner | Delaware River and Bay Authority |
Operator | Delaware River and Bay Authority |
Began operation | July 1, 1964 |
System length | 17 miles (27 km) |
No. of lines | 1 |
No. of vessels | 3 |
No. of terminals | 2 |
Website | http://www.cmlf.com/ |
The Cape May–Lewes Ferry is a ferry system in the United States that traverses a 17-mile (27 km) crossing of the Delaware Bay connecting North Cape May, New Jersey with Lewes, Delaware. The ferry constitutes a portion of U.S. Route 9[1] and is the final crossing of the Delaware River-Delaware Bay waterway before it meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is only one of two direct crossings between Delaware and New Jersey, the other being the Delaware Memorial Bridge
System
The Cape May–Lewes Ferry, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), consists of three ferry vessels and two terminal facilities. Its operations are based at its Cape May terminal, which is actually located in North Cape May, on the north shore of the Cape May Canal.
The three vessels in the fleet carry both vehicles (passenger cars, buses, RVs, tractor trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles) and foot passengers. Each has a capacity of about 100 cars, selling out in advance during the popular summer weekends (although passenger capacity usually does not). Advance reservations are accepted.
When vehicles board the terminal from either side, they go through a toll booth and receive a ticket, and wait in line until they are called to the ferry. On board, tire stoppers are used to prevent vehicles from moving in place. Once the ferry arrives, vehicles leave the ferry and exit the terminal onto main roads. The ferry trip takes approximately 85 minutes. The company's site says that the roundtrip is approximately three hours.
The ferry's terminal buildings were substantially overhauled in 2000–01. A new Cape May terminal replaced the existing structure, built in 1988. The Lewes terminal, also built in 1988, was expanded and renovated at the same time. Both terminals now feature unique, recognizable "towers," which contain elevators and staircases connecting the terminal buildings to glass-enclosed walkways. The walkways allow foot passengers to board the vessel directly on the second deck, avoiding vehicles driving onto the car deck below.
As the ferry is a part of
The terminal buildings feature gift shops, food courts, bars, restaurants, ticketing and information booths, and occasional history or art exhibits.
Fleet
Current fleet
The three current vessels, although differing in external appearance, were originally designed and built to identical specifications. Renovation projects in the mid- to late-1990s radically altered the shapes and appearances of the fleet. However, the vessels were only rebuilt from the hull up, meaning that their hulls and power plant remain identical.
Each vessel consists of an open car deck situated atop a hull that is low to the water. Because of the ships' shallow displacements, the ships appear almost barge-like, sitting directly atop the water, from a distance. The ships were originally built with two decks atop the car deck—the second deck consisting of a gift shop, café, and interior and exterior seating areas, and the third deck consisting of outdoor seating areas. Historically, an interior crew room was situated on the third deck, and a pilot house was on the fourth deck. Subsequent renovations changed these plans on some of the vessels.
Each vessel can hold 100 cars and 800 passengers. All have a length of 320 feet (98 m) and a breadth of 68 feet (21 m), a displacement of at least 2,100 tons, a maximum draft of 7 feet (2.1 m), two 4,000 horsepower (3,000 kW) diesel engines, and a top speed of 16 knots (30 km/h) (18 mph).[3]
MV Delaware
The
MV New Jersey
The MV New Jersey is the second of the original three vessels of the new 1970s fleet, christened in November 1974. An outdoor canopy was added to the third deck in 1996 and in 1999 she received upgraded finishes and seating to the interior passenger lounge. Her main passenger lounge was recently renovated in 2013 with new carpeting and seating.
MV Cape Henlopen
The MV Cape Henlopen, the fourth vessel of the fleet built in 1981 was christened New Del in July 1981. The vessel was renamed Cape Henlopen in 1984. She received new outdoor seating and a canopy along with new indoor seating in 1998. A more recent refurbishment in 2012 resulted in new interior lighting, flooring, seating and climate control.
Former fleet
The original fleet of four steamships and two diesel-powered ships was purchased in 1964 from the defunct Little Creek-Cape Charles Ferry in Virginia, replaced by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. Those ships were the SS Cape May (originally the SS Delmarva 1934), the SS Delaware (originally the SS Pocahontas 1941), the SS New Jersey (originally the SS Princess Anne 1936), the MV Cape Henlopen (originally named USS Buncombe County (LST-510) in 1944 and renamed the MV Virginia Beach in 1955) and later in 1964, the MV Atlantic (originally the MV Old Point Comfort converted from USS LST-970) (this vessel was sold at the end of 1966).[3]
The four remaining ships were replaced beginning in 1974 with five new, diesel-powered vessels, of which two have themselves been retired.
MV Twin Capes
The MV Twin Capes was one of the original three vessels of the 1970s fleet, christened in May 1975. She was extensively renovated in a $27 million project between 1994 and 1996 resulting in the original superstructure on and above the second deck removed, the second deck extended forward and aft, and a new superstructure with four new decks, multiple lounges, new pilot house and "shark fin" smokestacks added. The vessel was then marked as a miniature cruise ship, complete with two sets of elevators, a sweeping interior staircase, interior areas on four different decks, an enlarged retail shop, a food court with a brick pizza oven, four different bars, and a buffet restaurant in a two-deck-tall, glass-enclosed atrium. Although the restaurant was shut down in 2000 after U.S.
MV Cape May
The MV Cape May, which was the newest vessel of the fleet christened in May 1985, was refurbished in 1998 in a $20 million project that retained the original superstructure and added deck extensions and a new fourth deck. The renovation added a fourth-deck buffet restaurant, bars, an enlarged gift shop, an elevator, and additional interior seating. In 2007, in order to help close an operating deficit, the DRBA removed the Cape May from service and announced that the vessel was up for sale. The vessel's added expense of operation and low use—it had made only fifteen crossings in 2007—were additional factors leading to its removal from service.[8] The owners of Cross Sound Ferry in Connecticut had shown interest in purchasing the ferry. In 2013, the Cape May was sold to Northstar Marine Services for $750,000, to be converted to a support vessel for offshore wind farms.[9]
History
In 1926, a ferry between Cape May and Lewes was planned.[10] The idea was to use a World War I military ship to transport passengers and cars across the Delaware Bay.[11] The project was abandoned after a few months.[12]
After several months of preparations, the Delaware River and Bay Authority conducted a trial run using the ferry Pocahantas borrowed from Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Ferry Commission on October 17, 1962.[13]
Service officially began on July 1, 1964, utilizing a fleet of five ships purchased from Virginia.[14] Those ships had previously provided service across the Chesapeake Bay, connecting Cape Charles with Virginia Beach, but the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel in 1964 rendered that service obsolete. The first trip went from Cape May to Lewes.
All of the steamers were replaced in the 1970s with the service's current fleet.
When it began service, the Cape May–Lewes Ferry operated under a 24-hour schedule. That schedule was cut back in 1975 to 16 hours per day.[15]
Nolan C. Chandler, a former oiler for Virginia's Norfolk–Kiptopeke Ferry, was the first manager of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. Chandler started on March 15, 1964.[16]
The Cape May–Lewes Ferry welcomed its first female permanent captain, Sharon Urban, in August 2020.[17]
Tourism
The ferry was constructed with transportation as its primary use, providing a connection between the south
The ferry fleet was substantially overhauled during the 1990s, adding several amenities—including buffet restaurants, bars, and lounges—intended to promote the ride as a draw in itself. The DRBA operates a shuttle bus service on both sides of the bay in the summer months, giving foot passengers both a ride on the ferry and round-trip transportation from the terminals into Cape May and Lewes for one combined rate. In New Jersey, the shuttle connects the ferry to the Cape May Welcome Center in downtown
In addition to these promotions, the ferry also offers special holiday excursions, including the annual fireworks cruise on the Fourth of July. The cruise features entertainment on the car deck and a catered meal.[21]
Incidents and accidents
On the evening of December 10, 2009, the New Jersey ran aground on a sandbar near the mouth of the Cape May Canal during an unusually low tide. The ferry was freed by a rising tide and did not suffer any structural damage.[22]
On March 30, 2019, after going three miles (4.8 km) from Cape May, New Jersey, the ferry lost power with 143 passengers on board. After two hours being stuck in the bay, the ferry was towed back to Cape May.[23]
On November 17, 2020, after leaving Cape May in high winds, the Cape Henlopen ran aground off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. The passengers were not harmed and the vessel was towed back to Cape May shortly after.[24]
See also
- U.S. Route 9 in Delaware
- U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey
- SS Atlantus, remainder of an early attempt to cross the bay
References
- Newspapers.com. "Last year, the U. S. government decided that the 70-minute, 17-mile ferry ride was important enough to become a highway, of sorts, itself. The ferry route is now listed on maps as part of the country's ocean highway system. It is the official extension of U. S. Route 9, from New Jersey to Delaware."
- ^ "Cape May - Lewes Ferry Schedule & Fares". Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "A Ferry Tale", by William J. Miller
- ^ "Cape May–Lewes Ferry Puts Second Boat Up For Sale". Cape May County Herald. July 2010.
- ^ "No more people or cars, just fish for Cape May ferry vessel". NJ.com. July 2017.
- ^ Anonymous, "M/V Twin Capes, retired Lewes-to-Cape May ferry, sunk to become part of Delaware’s artificial reef system," delaware.gov, June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018
- ^ "Luxurious Twin Capes ferry sunk for artificial reef". Press of Atlantic City. June 15, 2018.
- ^ "DRBA Seeks Buyer for MV Cape May". Cape May County Herald. September 2007.
- ^ Degener, Richard (June 26, 2013). "Cape May-Lewes unused ferry sold at loss to become a barge". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
- ^ "Start Work on N.J.-Del. Ferry Line". The Evening Journal (WIlmington, Delaware). April 6, 1926. p. 1.
- ^ "Concrete Ship to Be Sunk for Ferry Landing". Monmouth Democrat (Freehold, New Jersey). July 15, 1926. p. 3.
- ^ "South Jersey Ferry Still Floats After the Storm". Associated Press'. The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey). June 28, 1964. p. 23.
- ^ "Lewes-Cape May Ferry to Get Trial Run on Oct. 17". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). p. 31.
- ^ "Ferry Passengers Log an Unforgettable Crossing". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 2, 1964. p. 1.
- ^ 40th Anniversary 1964–2004, History of Cape May–Lewes Ferry Archived October 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Ferry Chief Gets New Job". Associated Press. The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia). July 31, 1963. p. 4.
- ^ "Home - Bay to Bay News | Bay to Bay News".
- ^ "Ferry Economic Impact Study". Cape May-Lewes Ferry. March 17, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Getting Here & Getting Around". Cape May-Lewes Ferry. April 20, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
- ^ "Excursion Packages". Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
- ^ "Ferry Fun and Fireworks - Ferry Hosts Two Special Cruises to Celebrate Independence Day". Cape Gazette. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ Degener, Richard (December 12, 2009). "Ferry runs aground at canal". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ "Cape May-Lewes Ferry stranded for hours in Delaware Bay". Associated Press. March 30, 2019.
- ^ Alexander, Dan (November 18, 2020). "High winds push Cape May Ferry aground with 23 passengers, 9 cars".