Outer Banks Times

Rep. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck) praised North Carolina Lawmakers in July for enabling the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry to resume service after it has been tied up amid COVID-19 shutdown.

The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry returned to service after being damaged during Hurricane Dorian. The ferry will make trips three times per day between Hatteras and the Silver Lake Terminal in Ocracoke Village, the Coastal Review Online reported on July 6. The ferry service will remain operational until the second week of September. 

"This is tremendous news," Hanig said in a Facebook response on July 7 about the ferry service returning. "I want to put out a big thank you to Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) also want to thank Dan Gurley for his hard work to make this happen."

Though Hanig thanked his fellow lawmakers for their efforts, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) made it know on Facebook that Hanig was also an integral part. 

"State lawmakers have stepped in to restart the Ocracoke Express, a passenger ferry to the Outer Banks island that was hit hard by Hurricane Dorian," Moore said in a July 7 Facebook post. "Thanks to Rep. Bobby Hanig for helping this ferry resume service now to benefit the local residents and economy."

The ferry service, however, will have to follow COVID-19-related safety guidelines during its trips. For instance, capacity will be limited to approximately 50%, face masks will be encouraged, social distancing and other health and safety measures, the Coastal Review Online reported.