Posted on June 11, 2026
Overnight dredging operations in Hatteras Sloop North Channel are expected to continue through June 20 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to maintain safe and reliable navigation for ferry traffic between Hatteras and Ocracoke.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, and contractor Cottrell Contracting Corporation are removing approximately 50,000 cubic yards of shoaled material from the channel during overnight work conducted between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The project includes both federally funded channel maintenance and additional channel widening supported through state and local partnerships.
The dredging effort is being coordinated with the N.C. Ferry Division to minimize impacts on ferry operations. Hatteras Sloop North Channel provides access to the ferry route’s South Dock terminal on the northern end of Ocracoke Island and serves one of North Carolina’s most important ferry corridors, supporting residents, visitors, businesses, and emergency services.
The N.C. Ferry System shifted the Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle route to an alternate schedule on May 30 to accommodate the dredging project. The modified schedule is expected to remain in place until work is completed, after which the route will return to its full summer schedule.
Current departure times are as follows:
Hatteras-Ocracoke: 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Ocracoke-Hatteras: 6:30 a.m., 6:45 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Army Corps is reminding mariners to monitor Notices to Mariners, follow posted warnings, reduce speed when passing dredging operations, and monitor VHF channels 13 and 16 when operating near the work area.
