Hurricane Sandy Snaps Ferry Lines

NORTH CAPE MAY – Hurricane Sandy’s fierce winds proved to be even too much for the MV Cape May as it sat moored in a Gloucester City marina. High winds, in excess of 50 knots, snapped three lines that held the boat to its pier, DRBA spokesman Jim Salmon told the Herald.
According to Salmon, the MV Cape May, along with its sister ferries MV Twin Capes, MV Delaware, MV New Jersey and MV Cape Henlopen made the trip north to Holt Marina to wait out hurricane.
Salmon said around midnight, Oct. 30, as the back end of the hurricane was making its way across the state, three lines snapped and caused the boat to begin drifting from the pier. Personnel onboard, as well as marina personnel were able to secure additional lines to the boat to hold it in place.
“Our crew did a fantastic job keeping watch over our vessels, added Cape May-Lewes Ferry Port Captain Bryan Helm. “We are very fortunate to have so many dedicated crewmembers, and we also are very thankful for the help we received from the staff at the Holt Marine Terminal during difficult conditions.”
Cape May – Lewes Ferry (CMLF) officials inspected the infrastructure at the Cape May and Lewes ferry terminals as well as each ferry vessel later in the day. No damage was reported.
The United States Coast Guard completed its assessment of the Delaware River for debris and remaining navigational aids and issued clearance for the MV Cape May to depart the Holt Marine Terminal at 1:00 p.m. and return to Cape May. The MV Delaware and MV New Jersey followed shortly thereafter.
The ferry will resume its regular schedule Oct. 31, with the first ferry departing Cape May at 7:30 a.m., said Heath Gehrke, director of ferry operations. “We were very fortunate that our facilities were relatively unscathed.”