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MANNS HARBOR – With the onset of warmer weather and longer daylight hours, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry System expanded many of its schedules March 26.

Five of the system’s regular routes will see expanded schedules, as the ferry system ramps up for its busier spring and summer service.

• Currituck-Knotts Island will go from six to ten daily departures
• Hatteras-Ocracoke will go from 24 to 52 daily departures, pending the reopening of Highway 12 on Ocracoke
• Aurora-Bayview will go from 10 to 14 daily departures
• Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach will go from 48 to 56 daily departures
• Southport-Fort Fisher will go from 28 to 32 weekday departures (remains at 28 on weekends)

The two routes across Pamlico Sound, Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke, will maintain their current schedules until a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging project in Bigfoot Slough is complete. Once the channel is cleared, those routes will expand from four daily departures to six.

A full ferry schedule can be viewed and downloaded here.

For real time text or email notifications on schedule adjustments and other ferry information, sign up for the Ferry Information Notification System at www.ncdot.gov/fins.