Posted on September 24, 2026
CARTERET COUNTY — A new dredging project has been greenlighted for the Cape Lookout Cabin and Camps Ferry Channel.
The project will remove approximately 1,000 cubic yards of sand from the existing channel. The contract was awarded to Brooks Dredging and Marine Construction Inc. of Harkers Island, which came in with the low bid for the project at $89,000.
The project, which will involve the removal of sand that has shoaled into the channel, will be funded with available federal funds with no local funds used, according to Ryan Davenport of the Carteret County Shore Protection Office.
Davenport explained that following the completion of the Back Sound to Cape Lookout dredging project in 2022 there was $1.3 million in federal funds remaining to maintain additional channels that access Cape Lookout National Seashore.
The Carteret County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the project during their September 21 meeting. Board Chairman Chris Chadwick recused himself from the vote and Commissioner Keith Moore not present for the meeting.
The goal of the dredging project is to maintain the ferry channel that connects Atlantic to Portsmouth Island. Cape Lookout Cabin and Camps Ferry Service utilizes the channel to transport vehicles and pedestrians from mainland Carteret County to Portsmouth Island. The channel is also available for use by the boating public.
Davenport said the owner of Cape Lookout Cabins and Camps has called me repeatedly over the summer expressing concern about the condition of the channel.
“I think the ferry spent five hours stuck on the sand bar there during a low tide this summer. And I’m not aware of it being dredged in any recent history,” Davenport said.
Board Vice-Chairman Mark Mansfield said the dredging project is no different than others the county has approved.
“But we do that with county money and then a state match,” Mansfield noted. “This will be all federal dollars.”
