DRBA Seeks Buyer for MV Cape May

NORTH CAPE MAY — For sale: pre-owned, 1985 ferry, low mileage, used only 15 days last summer.
Interested? Contact the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) has initiated the process to sell the MV Cape May, one of five ferry vessels in the ferry’s fleet. This action is part of a comprehensive plan to improve efficiency and reduce the operating deficit at the ferry, which was $6.8 million in 2006.
The figure does not include other operating and overhead expenses directly attributable to the ferry operation, such as security, insurance premiums, and food and retail.
In July, the MV Cape May was declared surplus property and the agency is seeking to sell the vessel to the highest bidder.
According to Heath Gehrke, Director of Ferry Operations, the decision to sell the MV Cape May was based on a number of operating factors.
“Based on traffic demand in 2006, the fifth vessel was needed on only 15 days to complete 40 crossings,” remarked Gehrke. “It just doesn’t make economic sense to maintain a vessel for 365 days a year that is used for only 15 days a year.”
Ferry service was basically flat this summer, said DRBA spokesman Jim Salmon.
Vehicle traffic for 2007 through August was down 4 percent, he said. Passenger traffic is down 3.6 percent while foot passenger traffic is down 0.8 percent, he said.
Through August, the ferries carried 240,469 vehicles, 722,583 passengers and 140,318 foot passengers.
Last year by the end of August, the ferries carried 250,632 vehicles, 749,326 passengers and 141,510 foot passengers, said Salmon.
He said the 2007 figures are unedited figures.
The ferry operation is extremely seasonal as the number of daily departures vary from eight in the winter to 30 during the height of the summer season.
Gehrke also indicated that the MV Cape May requires 17 crewmembers to operate compared to the 12 crewmembers for other typical vessels. The MV Cape May also uses about 25 more gallons of fuel per hour than the typical vessel in the fleet.
The vessel’s maintenance costs were also considered and factored into the decision.
The MV Cape May has approximately 20,000 square feet of exterior white painted surface to maintain compared to about 12,000 square feet for the typical vessel in the fleet, resulting in increased paint and labor costs.
Salmon told the Herald the MV Cape May is the ferry’s second biggest boat. He said while the resale value is a key component in selecting the MV Cape May to sell, its higher operational costs was the main factor.
“The ferry will continue to take necessary and prudent actions to close the operating deficit,” Gehrke said. We are looking forward to the completion of the new marine master plan, which will provide the framework for the future of our ferry operation.”
In September 2006, the DRBA contracted with Hornblower Marine Services, LLC to provide marine master planning services for the ferry. The primary focus of the study will be to determine what the future of the ferry fleet should look like, including the size, speed and number of vessels.
According to Hornblower Marine, these marine master planning services will result in a “phased and comprehensive strategy to maintain, improve, and optimize operations and assets associated with their Cape May-Lewes Ferry operation.” The project is expected to be completed in December 2007.
“It’s going to lay the foundation for the future of the operation and what type of ferries we have and use,” said Salmon.
Built at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in 1985, the MV Cape May is 320 feet long, 68 feet wide and displaces more than 2,100 tons. The vessel has vehicle and passenger capacities of 90 and 1,014, respectively.