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The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is a ferry system that traverses a 17-mile crossing of the Delaware Bay to connect Cape May, New Jersey with Lewes, Delaware. The ferry doubles as a section of U.S. Route 9.
The system
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), consists of five ferry vessels and two terminal facilities. Its operations are based at its Cape May terminal, which is actually located in North Cape May, on the north shore of the Cape May Canal.
The five vessels in the fleet carry both automobiles (passenger cars, buses, RVs, tractor trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles are all common) and foot passengers. It has a capacity of about 100 cars, and individual ferry trips sell out in advance during the popular summer weekends. Advance reservations are accepted.
The ferry trip takes approximately 90 minutes and provides a view of three lighthouses: the Cape May Lighthouse in New Jersey and two lighthouses on a breakwater off Cape Henlopen, adjacent to Lewes.
The ferry's terminal buildings were substantially overhauled in 2000-2001. Cape May received a brand-new terminal to replace the existing structure, built in 1988. The Lewes terminal, also built in 1988, was expanded and renovated at the same time. Both terminals now feature unique, recongizable "towers," which contain elevators and staircases connecting the terminal buildings to glass-enclosed walkways. The walkways allow foot passengers to board the vessel directly on the second deck, avoiding automobiles driving onto the car deck below.
The terminal buildings feature gift shops, food courts, bars, restaurants, ticketing and information booths, and occasional history or art exhibits.
The fleet
The original Cape May-Lewes Ferry fleet consisted of steamships purchased from a defunct ferry line in Virginia. These ships were replaced beginning in 1974 with new, diesel-powered vessels. The three original vessels of the new fleet, the M.V. Delaware, M.V. Twin Capes, and M.V. New Jersey, were supplemented by the M.V. Cape Henlopen (originally the M.V. New Del) in 1981 and the M.V. Cape May in 1985. Although these five vessels currently differ in external appearance, they were originally designed and built to identical specifications. Renovation projects in the mid- to late-1990s radically altered the shapes and appearances of the fleet. However, the vessels were only rebuilt from the hull up, meaning that their hulls and engines remain identical.
Each vessel consists of an open car deck situated atop a hull that is low to the water. Because of the ships' shallow displacements, the ships appear almost barge-like, sitting directly atop the water, from a distance. The ships were originally built with two decks atop the car deck--the second deck consisting of a gift shop, snack bar, and interior and exterior seating areas, and the third deck consisting of outdoor seating areas. Historically, an interior crew room was situated on the third deck, and a pilot house was on the fourth deck. Subsequent renovations changed these plans for some of the vessels.
Each vessel can hold 100 cars and 1,000 passengers. All have a length of 320 feet and a breadth of 68 feet, a displacement of at least 2100 tons, a maximum draft of 7 feet, two 4,000 horsepower diesel engines, and a top speed of 16 knots.
M.V. Delaware
The M.V. (Motor Vessel) Delaware was one of the original three vessels of the new 1970s fleet, and it was also the first vessel in the fleet to be completely refurbished. A renovation in 1994 added "shark's fin" stacks to the vessel as well as an interior deli and bar on the third deck. The second and third decks were extended over the car deck in this renovation to provide for more seating. A second renovation at the end of the 1990s reconfigured the interior spaces on the second deck.M.V. Twin Capes
The M.V. Twin Capes, one of the original three vessels of the 1974 fleet, achieved superstar status in the fleet upon its $27 million renovation in 1996. While other vessel renovations maintained the original structures above the ships' hulls, the renovation of the Twin Capes saw the original vessel's entire superstructure above the car deck removed and replaced. The vessel was then marked as a miniature cruise ship, complete with an elevator, a sweeping, interior staircase, interior areas on four different decks, an enlarged gift shop, a food court with a brick pizza oven, four different bars, and a buffet restaurant in a two-deck-tall, glass-enclosed room. Although the buffet was shut down in 2000 after U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors found numerous violations in the galleys of all five vessels, the ship remains an attraction.M.V. Cape May
The M.V. Cape May, the newest vessel of the fleet, is the other "superstar" in the Cape May-Lewes Ferry fleet. It was refurbished in 1998 in a $20 million project that retained the original superstructure and added deck extensions and a new fourth deck. The Cape May received a buffet restaurant on its fourth deck, ample bars, an enlarged gift shop, an elevator, and additional interior seating. The U.S. FDA action that shut down food prepation on all the vessels spelled the end of the Cape May's buffet restaurant days.M.V. New Jersey
The M.V. New Jersey, one of the original three vessels of the new 1970s fleet, is considered one of fleet's two "small" vessels, despite its hull being the same size and displacement as that of the M.V. Twin Capes and M.V. Cape May. The New Jersey was lightly renovated in 1999, retaining its original decks and floor plans but receiving upgraded finishes and seating.
M.V. Cape Henlopen
The M.V. Cape Henlopen, the fourth vessel of the fleet in terms of original construction date, is the other "small" vessel, along with the M.V. New Jersey. Like the New Jersey, the Cape Henlopen retains its original decks and floor plans but received upgraded finishes and seating in 1998. It was originally named the M.V. New Del, but it was re-christened upon the arrival of the M.V. Twin Capes.History
Service began on July 1, 1964, utilizing a fleet of four ships purchased from Virginia. Those ships had previously provided service across the Chesapeake Bay, connecting Cape Charles with Virginia, but the recent opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, rendered that service obsolete. All of the steamers was replaced in the 1970s with the service's current fleet.
When it began service, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry operated under a 24 hour schedule. That schedule was cut back in 1975 to 16 hours a day.
Talk occasionally surfaces surrounding the construction of a bridge-tunnel across the bay, similar to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, about 200 miles south, but an actual project is unlikely.
Tourism
The ferry was constructed with transportation as its chief goal. However, over time, the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) began to recognize its potential as a tourist attraction. While the ferry of today continues to provide a vital transportation link between Delaware and New Jersey, the ferry experience has been optimized to draw in tourists.
The ferry fleet was substantially overhauled during the 1990s, adding several amenities — including buffet restaurants, bars, and lounges — intended to promote the ride as a draw in itself. The DRBA operates a shuttle service on both sides of the bay, giving foot passengers both a ride on the ferry and round-trip transportation from the terminals into Cape May and Lewes for one combined rate. The DRBA has partnered with local merchants to give discounts to passengers, and it even allows passengers to purchase a round-trip ticket and not disembark midway.
In addition to these promotions, the ferry also offers a special excursions. A popular, but expensive, excursion includes the annual fireworks cruise, in which passengers board the vessel (usually the M.V. Twin Capes) and sail into the bay to watch a 4th of July fireworks show sponsored by the DRBA. The cruise features entertainment on the car deck (past entertainment has included a symphony orchestra) and a catered meal.
References
A Ferry Tale, by William J. Miller
External links
- Official site
- Scheduling & Pricing at CapeMayTimes.com
Delaware River | Delaware River and Bay Authority facilities | Ferries in Delaware | Ferries in New Jersey
"Cape May-Lewes Ferry"