Soon you could drink a beer or glass of wine on a ferry at the beach

Riders on the state's new passenger ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke may be able to order a cold beer or a glass of wine during their trip.

The N.C. Department of Transportation wants the legislature to change state law to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on state ferries. While the proposal would allow the sale of beer and wine on all state ferries, NCDOT really just wants the option on its new passenger ferry, said Tim Hass, spokesman for the Ferry Division.

"We’re not even sure we’re going to do it," Hass said. "But we know if we want to do it, we’re going to need to get the law changed."

Unlike other ferries in the state system, the new passenger-only ferry will have a snack bar to serve people on the 70-minute trip between the Hatteras ferry landing and the harbor at Silver Lake in Ocracoke Village. In addition to chips, soda, candy and other snacks, NCDOT wants the option to sell beer and wine.

"We’re not going to be selling pina coladas," Hass said.

The catamaran-style ferry will be able to seat 96 people inside and another 26 outside, with racks for 12 bicycles. It's now under construction at a shipyard in Swansboro and is expected to make its inaugural run in July, Hass said.

State officials and Ocracoke businesses hope the ferry will help make up for a drop in passengers after the state ferry system reduced the number of car ferry trips between Hatteras and Ocracoke several years ago. Shoaling in Hatteras Inlet has forced the car ferries to take a longer route into Pamlico Sound, reducing the number of runs by 20 percent, according to Jed Dixon, the deputy director of the ferry division.

Dixon told legislators this week that spending by tourists has since dropped by an estimated 25 percent in Hyde County, where Ocracoke is located.

The passenger-only ferry will cost about $9.1 million to get up and running, including additional parking on Hatteras and a new floating dock and passenger shelter on Ocracoke. The ferry itself will cost about $4.34 million.

The majority of the money — $5.26 million — will come from the federal government, with the balance approved by the state legislature two years ago.

This story was originally published March 9, 2018 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Soon you could drink a beer or glass of wine on a ferry at the beach."