Frozen bay creates challenges for Cape May-Lewes Ferry
The extreme cold has not been kind to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, as the Delaware River and Bay Authority has been forced to cancel dozens of trips due to the icy conditions in Delaware Bay.
“It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for us,” said Heath Gehrke, director of ferry operations, in a Feb. 9 social media video.
According to James Salmon, DRBA director of communications and marketing, a total of 64 departures have been canceled since the end of January, including 42 over the last six days.
“While it’s been rough this winter, it hasn’t been the worst,” Salmon said. “In January 1977, the ferry was shut down for 45 consecutive days due to ice in the canal and Delaware Bay.”
Gehrke, standing in the breezeway overlooking the bay, said the conditions are extremely challenging, particularly in Cape May, where the ferry terminal is just inside the Cape May Canal. Gehrke said the canal has been completely frozen solid.
“The tricky thing about ice is that it changes quickly, and we try to predict what it’s going to do, but it doesn’t always match what we think,” he said. “So right now, the ferry isn’t operating at all because this ice is simply too thick for us to break through.”
The ferries can break through some ice, he said, so usually in the morning, the crew arrives early, and it takes the ferry out without any passengers or vehicles onboard. The vessel shoves its way into the ice to try to determine whether the obstruction can be moved or not.
“The last couple of days, the answer has been a resounding no,” Gehrke said.
Gehkre said he’s hopeful the warmer weather expected over the next couple of days will allow the ferry to resume operations.
“I know it’s frustrating for folks who had plans to travel,” he said. “We are doing our very best to try to get the word out to let [everyone] know as far in advance as we can.”
After the first four planned departures for Feb. 10 were canceled, the ferry was finally able to travel across the bay at 2:30 and 4:15 p.m. The ferry will continue to provide updates on its social media channels.
Gehrke also noted the Pilots' Association for the Bay and River Delaware, which is based next to the ferry terminal, has moved its operations to Indian River due to the thick ice.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
