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The Cape May-Lewes ferry leaves the Cape May Terminal for the 17-mile trip across the Delaware Bay.

(Courtesy of James E. Salmon)

FERRY FACTS

45

Days without ferry service, from Jan. 11 to Feb. 25, 1977, due to ice buildup in the Delaware Bay

9

Minimum number of crew members needed to operate a ferry, according to Bryan Helm, port captain.

$3.25

Cost to bring a vehicle on the ferry on July 1, 1964. Eight vehicles made the inaugural trip.

$36

Cost of a one-way ticket for car and driver on the ferry in summer 2014. A round-trip ticket is $68.

As the Cape May County shoreline crept into view, the level of excitement grew on the vessel navigating across Delaware Bay. For the 15 passengers on board, there was a sense of history in being part of the maiden voyage of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on July 1, 1964.

It was a modest start for the ferry, but a half-century later, its passengers can now be counted in the millions.

The 17-mile trip across the bay takes about 85 minutes, but the launch of the ferry service connecting New Jersey and Delaware took years. “The federal government seriously considered financing a ferry across Delaware Bay during World War II for national security and economic reasons,” according to J. Fred Coldren, a former business manager for the ferry, who compiled a history of the service. The wartime goal was to conserve gasoline and rubber used in the production of tires, but the plan never materialized.

A federal law that created the Delaware River and Bay Authority in September 1962 provided the impetus for the two states to begin a ferry service that would connect Cape May and Cape Henlopen. The 12-member authority, with equal representation from New Jersey and Delaware, continues to operate the ferry.

In 1963 and 1964, a route was chosen, and terminals and access roads were built on both sides of the bay. Four ferries that were no longer needed after the completion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel were purchased from Virginia for $3.3 million. (Despite its name, the ferry actually sets sail from the North Cape May section of Lower Township.)

The Cape May Terminal facility, from which the ferries set sail, is located in the North Cape May section of Lower Township.

The ferry quickly found favor with foot passengers and motorists, offering an alternative to driving over the Delaware Memorial Bridge. While the bridge allows motorists to see the Delaware River, the ferry offers a full sensory experience. Passengers can feel the roar of the engines, smell the salt air, soak in the sunshine and, if conditions are right, see Shore birds and dolphins from the ferry’s decks.

“The ferry has become a destination. It enhances the vacation experience,” says Jim Salmon, public information officer for the authority.

Passengers come from far beyond the tri-state region. On a rainy Sunday during the last weekend of March, vehicles with California, Washington, Michigan, South Carolina and Massachusetts license plates could be seen onboard.

Vehicles of any type are welcome on the ferry, says Bryan Helm, who serves as port captain.

“We can accommodate up to 100 vehicles. Tractor-trailers are no problem and we have had some very large cranes. We welcome SUVs and are RV-friendly,” adds Helm, an Ocean City resident.

At 320 feet long and weighing more than 5 million pounds, the ferry cuts an imposing figure on the bay. “Our top speed is about 12.5 knots (about 15 mph),” Helm says.

Ferry passengers can take advantage of attractions and amenities unavailable 50 years ago. “In the summer, we try to have activities in the terminals or the ferries, or both, such as concerts,” says Michael Porch, marketing manager for the ferry.

Ferry service began on July 1, 1964, while construction of the terminal area was ongoing.

“We’ve improved the interior seating (with cup holders and retractable trays), added flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi access, and upgraded the food services,” Salmon says. Elevators have been installed on the four ferries to assist people with disabilities, while enclosed boarding ramps offer protection in inclement weather.

Since its inception, the ferry has brought visitors to the Shore from beyond New Jersey, says Diane F. Wieland, director of the Cape May County Department of Tourism and Information.

“The ferry has allowed us to open our marketing efforts in the South to include the Maryland/Washington, D.C., area and northern Virginia,” adds Wieland, who has worked in tourism for 39 years. “In the early days of casino gaming in Atlantic City, the ferry was important for bus tours to the city.”

The ferry’s impact extends beyond the summer, Wieland says. “Fall in Cape May County has the most events that attract a wider audience from the areas serviced by the ferry, such as Irish Weekend, the Wildwood Classic Car show and Bikers Weekend,” she adds.

“A ferry ride is a step back in time,” Porch says and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has demonstrated enduring appeal with its passengers.

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