North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division; Director Harold Thomas, NCDOT release, Mar. 16, 2020: Ferry Division 'strengthening procedures' until further notice: increased cleaning; employees required to wash hands regularly; passengers asked to remain in their vehicles for the voyage; CDC guidance posted; recital of the Governor's emergency declaration and school-closure and gathering order (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-046)
Hyde County Board of Commissioners (emergency declaration), implemented by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division, NCDOT release, Mar. 18, 2020: visitors not allowed on Ocracoke-bound ferries from 5:00 a.m. Mar. 19, 2020 under the Hyde County emergency declaration; visitor reservations cancelled and refunded; only residents, property owners, workers, vendors and service providers may board; county law enforcement at terminals to check identification (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-047)
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division, NCDOT release, Mar. 19, 2020: new ferry schedules effective Friday, Mar. 20, 2020 on all routes (Currituck-Knotts Island three round trips; Hatteras-Ocracoke eleven departures; Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke two or three; Cherry Branch-Minnesott and Bayview-Aurora reduced; Southport-Fort Fisher closed for construction) until further notice; Ocracoke-bound ferries closed to visitors under the Hyde County declaration (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-048)
North Carolina State Ports Authority (NC Ports), an enterprise agency of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, NC Ports 'COVID-19 Business Continuity Plans' (updates of Mar. 20 and Mar. 24, 2020): all terminals on a normal schedule; Continuity of Operations Plan implemented: access to Maritime Buildings in Wilmington and Morehead City restricted to essential personnel only; security processes modified with the Coast Guard; social distancing, avoiding unnecessary travel, remote working encouraged (Mar. 20, 2020) (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-102)
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division, NCDOT release, Apr. 28, 2020: 2020 contract for the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry cancelled due to COVID-19 (28,600 riders in 2019); vehicle ferries continue with passengers asked to remain in vehicles or stand six feet apart (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-050)
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division, NCDOT release, May 22, 2020: increased ferry service from Saturday, May 23, 2020 'due to greater expected demand and the easing of certain COVID-19 restrictions'; round trips added to Ocracoke, Cherry Branch-Minnesott and Bayview-Aurora; Currituck-Knotts Island temporarily suspended; passengers to remain in vehicles or six feet apart (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-051)
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division (with State health officials), NCDOT release, July 2, 2020: Ocracoke Express passenger ferry resumes July 3, 2020 after final approval of Senate Bill 750; passengers limited to 96 ('about half of what the vessel's certificate of occupancy allows'); face coverings strongly encouraged; groups six feet apart; no refreshments (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-052)
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division, NCDOT release, Dec. 16, 2020: six employees on the Cedar Island-Ocracoke route positive; six recovering under 14-day quarantine and eleven more quarantined; Pamlico Sound service reduced Dec. 22-28, 2020 to two round trips per leg; crews and passengers required to wear face coverings (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-053)
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ferry Division, NCDOT release, Sept. 2, 2021: five Hatteras-route employees positive and isolating for at least 14 days; Hatteras-Ocracoke round trips reduced from 60 to 44 from Sept. 3, 2021 until normal schedules can safely resume; Currituck-Knotts Island suspended Sept. 4-6, 2021; employees and passengers required to wear face coverings inside vessels and terminal facilities regardless of vaccination status per CDC and TSA requirements (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-054)
