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47-683: The Cape May–Lewes Ferry is a ferry system in the United States that traverses a 17-mile (27 km) crossing of the Delaware Bay connecting North Cape May, New Jersey with Lewes, Delaware . The ferry constitutes a portion of U.S. Route 9 and is the final crossing of the Delaware River -Delaware Bay waterway before it meets the Atlantic Ocean . It is only one of two direct crossings between Delaware and New Jersey ,

94-558: A Royal Navy frigate , a sloop-of-war and a Loyalist privateer . The strategic importance of the bay was noticed by the Marquis de Lafayette during the American Revolutionary War , who proposed the use of Pea Patch Island at the head of the bay for a defensive fortification to protect the important ports Philadelphia and New Castle, Delaware . Fort Delaware was later constructed on Pea Patch Island. During

141-414: A $ 20 million dollar renovation, refurbishment and upgrade when her exterior was sandblasted down to bare metal, her passenger lounge was gutted and stripped down to the studs, her pilothouse stripped down, original stacks removed and her original powerplant was taken out. It was replaced with new propulsion systems, new stacks, new windows and doors to the passenger lounge, a new console in the pilot house and

188-758: A capacity of 100 vehicles and 800 passengers, selling out in advance during the popular summer weekends (although passenger capacity usually does not). Advance reservations are accepted. The ferry trip takes approximately 85 minutes. The company's site says that the roundtrip is approximately three hours. The ferry provides a view of three lighthouses: the Cape May Light in New Jersey, and the Harbor of Refuge Light and Delaware Breakwater East End Light near Lewes. The ferry has two terminal facilities. Both with toll booths, vehicle staging areas, parking lots, and

235-638: A connection between the south Jersey Shore towns and the Delaware Beaches and Ocean City, Maryland , on the Delmarva Peninsula . Prior to its inception, travelers between these areas needed to drive across southern New Jersey to the Delaware Memorial Bridge , and then down through Delaware on U.S. Route 13 , or vice versa if they were coming from Delaware. The Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) later recognized

282-516: A displacement of at least 2,100 tons, a maximum draft of 7 feet (2.1 m), two 4,000 horsepower (3,000 kW) diesel engines, and a top speed of 16 knots (30 km/h) (18 mph). The MV Delaware was the first of the original three vessels of the new 1970s fleet. Christened in June 1974, she is the flagship of the fleet. The Delaware has undergone several renovations and refurbishments. The first in 1994 added an additional passenger lounge on

329-584: A ferry between Cape May and Lewes was planned. The idea was to use a World War I military ship to transport passengers and cars across the Delaware Bay. The project was abandoned after a few months. After several months of preparations, the Delaware River and Bay Authority conducted a trial run using the ferry Pocahantas borrowed from Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Ferry Commission on October 17, 1962. Service officially began on July 1, 1964, utilizing

376-549: A fleet of five ships purchased from Virginia . Those ships had previously provided service across the Chesapeake Bay , connecting Cape Charles with Virginia Beach , but the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel in 1964 rendered that service obsolete. The first trip went from Cape May to Lewes. All of the steamers were replaced in the 1970s with the service's current fleet. When it began service,

423-599: A fresh coat of paint giving the MV New Jersey many more years of reliable, safe, and comfortable service. The MV Cape Henlopen , the fourth vessel of the fleet built in 1981 was christened New Del in July 1981. The vessel was renamed Cape Henlopen in 1984. She received new outdoor seating and a canopy along with new indoor seating in 1998. A more recent refurbishment in 2012 resulted in new interior lighting, flooring, seating and climate control. The ferry plans to retire

470-610: A grant for the land explored in 1521 by Francisco Gordillo and slave trader Captain Pedro de Quejo (de Quexo). Ayllón sent Quejo northward in 1525 and received reports of the coastline from as far north as Delaware Bay. That same year, De Ayllon and Captain Quejo called Delaware Bay by the name "Saint Christopher's Bay". In the 1600s, the bay was known as "Niew Port May" after Captain Cornelius May . Another recorded European visit to

517-689: A project led by Captain Tim Mullane. The Twin Capes was scuttled on June 15, 2018, in the North Atlantic Ocean off Bethany Beach , Delaware, at 38°30.90′N 074°30.90′W  /  38.51500°N 74.51500°W  / 38.51500; -74.51500  ( M/V Twin Capes ) to form part of the Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Artificial Reef. The MV Cape May , which was the newest vessel of

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564-478: A terminal building with ticket counters for walk on passengers, restroooms and dining facilities. The Cape May Terminal also hosts the maintenance facility for the three vessels, along with lay berths. The terminals were substantially expanded during the mid 1980's with new terminal buildings built in Lewes in 1984 and Cape May in 1988 along with new toll booths, passenger loading buildings. The terminal building in Lewes

611-549: Is bordered inland by the states of Delaware and New Jersey , and its mouth is framed by Cape Henlopen in Delaware and Cape May in New Jersey, on the Atlantic. Delaware Bay is bordered by six counties: Sussex, Kent, and New Castle in Delaware, and Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem in New Jersey. The Cape May–Lewes Ferry crosses Delaware Bay from North Cape May, New Jersey , to Lewes, Delaware . The bay's ports are managed by

658-474: The American Civil War it was used as a Union prison camp. In 1855, the United States government systematically undertook the formation of a 26 ft (7.9 m) channel 600 ft (180 m) wide from Philadelphia to deep water in Delaware Bay. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 provided for a 30-foot (9.1 m) channel 600 feet (180 m) wide from Philadelphia to the deep water of

705-428: The Delaware River and Bay Authority . The shores of the bay are largely composed of salt marshes and mudflats , with only small communities inhabiting the shore of the lower bay. Several of the rivers hold protected status for their salt marsh wetlands bordering the bay, which serves as a breeding ground for many aquatic species, including horseshoe crabs . The bay is also a prime oystering ground. Delaware Bay

752-801: The SS Princess Anne 1936), the MV Cape Henlopen (originally named USS Buncombe County (LST-510) in 1944 and renamed the MV Virginia Beach in 1955) and later in 1964, the MV Atlantic (originally the MV Old Point Comfort converted from USS LST-970) (this vessel was sold at the end of 1966). The four remaining ships were replaced beginning in 1974 with five new, diesel-powered vessels, of which two have themselves been retired. The MV Twin Capes

799-539: The Calvert family to secure it. During the French and Indian War the dissemination of Joshua Fisher's original publication of the "Chart of Delaware Bay" was restricted by the authorities as its accuracy might advantage an enemy approach. In 1782 during the American Revolutionary War , Continental Navy Lieutenant Joshua Barney fought with a British squadron within the bay. Barney's force of three sloops defeated

846-574: The Cape May–Lewes Ferry operated under a 24-hour schedule. That schedule was cut back in 1975 to 16 hours per day. Nolan C. Chandler, a former oiler for Virginia's Norfolk–Kiptopeke Ferry, was the first manager of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. Chandler started on March 15, 1964. The Cape May–Lewes Ferry welcomed its first female permanent captain, Sharon Urban, in August 2020. The ferry was constructed with transportation as its primary use, providing

893-476: The Delaware side, and the Salem River , Cohansey River , and Maurice Rivers on the New Jersey side. Delaware Bay ecosystem is a key stopover site for over 30 species of migrating shorebirds that migrate north come May. Many birds like red knots use this Bay area to fuel up their energy reserves on horseshoe crab eggs after the long journey. Delaware Bay hosts the largest population of horseshoe crabs in

940-766: The MV Cape Henlopen by the year 2027. The original fleet of four steamships and two diesel-powered ships was purchased in 1964 from the defunct Little Creek-Cape Charles Ferry in Virginia, replaced by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel . Those ships were the SS Cape May (originally the SS Delmarva 1934), the SS Delaware (originally the SS Pocahontas 1941), the SS New Jersey (originally

987-505: The MV Delaware, MV New Jersey and MV Cape Henlopen in operation. 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 built with two decks atop the car deck with the second deck consisting of a gift shop, snack bar, and interior and exterior seating areas, and

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1034-734: The Route 204 bus which connects the ferry terminal with downtown Lewes and the Lewes Transit Center park and ride, where transfers can be made to DART First State's Beach Bus routes that serve the Delaware Beaches and provide connections to Ocean City Transportation 's Coastal Highway Beach Bus in Ocean City, Maryland . The DRBA also operates a shuttle bus that links the ferry to the Cape May County Park & Zoo on select days from late June through August and to

1081-833: The Tree to Tree Aerial adventure park at the zoo from late May to late September. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts operates trolley tours of Cape May, the Cape May Lighthouse , and the Emlen Physick Estate from the ferry terminal from late June to the end of August. A private operator also runs a coach bus that connects the ferry in Cape May to the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City ;

1128-698: The area in 1655. After the English took title to the New Netherland colony in 1667 at the Treaty of Breda the bay came into their possession and was renamed Delaware Bay, the name given it in 1610 by Samuel Argall , after the then new Governor of Virginia, Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr . The Native American tribe living along the bay and river were later called the Delaware by the Europeans due to their location. The U.S. state also takes its name from

1175-553: The bay and the river. Conflicting crown grants were made to the James, Duke of York and William Penn on the west bank of the bay and river. Settlement grew rapidly, leading Philadelphia , upriver on the Delaware, to become the largest city in North America in the 18th century. Penn viewed access to Delaware Bay as being so critical to Pennsylvania's survival that he engaged in an eighty-year long legal boundary dispute with

1222-624: The bay in the summer months, 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. In New Jersey, the shuttle connects the ferry to the Cape May Welcome Center in downtown Cape May . In Delaware, the shuttle operates from the ferry to the Tanger Outlets and a park and ride lot in Rehoboth Beach . DART First State operates

1269-593: The bay was by Henry Hudson , who claimed it for the Dutch East India Company in 1609. The Dutch called the estuary "Godyns Bay", or "Godins Bay" after a director of the company, Samuel Godijn . As part of the New Netherland colony, the Dutch established several settlements (the most famous being Zwaanendael ) on the shores of the bay and explored its coast extensively. The thin nature of

1316-478: The bay, the ferry was towed back to Cape May. On November 17, 2020, after leaving Cape May in high winds, the Cape Henlopen ran aground off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. The passengers were not harmed and the vessel was towed back to Cape May shortly after. 38°52′40″N 75°03′44″W  /  38.87764°N 75.06226°W  / 38.87764; -75.06226 Delaware Bay The bay

1363-678: The bay. Other names for the bay have been "South Bay" and "Zuyt Baye". The bay is one of the most important navigational channels in the United States; it is the second busiest waterway after the Mississippi River . Its lower course forms part of the Intracoastal Waterway . The need for direct navigation around the two capes into the ocean is circumvented by the Cape May Canal and the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal at

1410-549: The car deck and a catered meal. On the evening of December 10, 2009, the New Jersey ran aground on a sandbar near the mouth of the Cape May Canal during an unusually low tide. The ferry was freed by a rising tide and did not suffer any structural damage. On March 30, 2019, after going three miles (4.8 km) from Cape May, New Jersey, the ferry lost power with 143 passengers on board. After two hours being stuck in

1457-576: The car deck below. As the ferry is a part of US 9 , it is included as part of the U.S. Highway System . The only other U.S. Route to use a ferry is U.S. Route 10 , which uses the SS ; Badger across Lake Michigan . Routewise, taking the ferry avoids going around the Delaware Bay and avoids highways and bridges such as the New Jersey Turnpike , Delaware Memorial Bridge , US 13 , and DE 1 . The current vessels are part of

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1504-599: The corporate colony's presence in the bay and along what was called the South River (now the Delaware) made it possible for Peter Minuit , the former director of New Netherland, to establish a competing Swedish sponsored settlement, New Sweden in 1638. The resulting dispute with the Dutch colonial authorities in New Amsterdam (New York City) was settled when Petrus Stuyvesant led a Dutch military force into

1551-429: The ferry's potential as a tourist attraction. While it continues to provide transportation between Delaware and New Jersey, the experience has also 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 bus service on both sides of

1598-575: The fleet christened in May 1985, was refurbished in 1998 in a $ 20 million project that retained the original superstructure and added deck extensions and a new fourth deck. The renovation added a fourth-deck buffet restaurant, bars, an enlarged gift shop, an elevator, and additional interior seating. In 2007, in order to help close an operating deficit, the DRBA removed the Cape May from service and announced that

1645-656: The galleys of all five vessels, the ship remained an attraction. Her sister ship is the MV Delaware . In July 2010, due to decreasing ridership, the DRBA announced that the vessel was for sale. The Twin Capes was taken out of service and retired in October 2013. On July 20, 2017, the Twin Capes was towed out of the Cape May Terminal to be stripped before a planned sinking as an artificial reef in 2018 in

1692-475: The interior space on the second deck. The MV New Jersey is the second of the original three vessels of the new 1970s fleet, christened in November 1974. An outdoor canopy was added to the third deck in 1996 and in 1999 she received upgraded finishes and seating to the interior passenger lounge. Her main passenger lounge was upgraded in 2013 with new carpeting and seating. In 2020-2021 the MV New Jersey received

1739-557: The other being the Delaware Memorial Bridge . The Cape May–Lewes Ferry, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), consists of three 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 three vessels in the fleet carry both vehicles (passenger cars, buses, RVs, tractor trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles) and foot passengers. Each has

1786-489: The package includes round-trip ferry service, round-trip coach service, and free play for slots. The DRBA has partnered with local merchants to give discounts to passengers, allowing passengers to purchase a round-trip ticket and not disembark midway. In addition to these promotions, the ferry also offers special holiday excursions, including the annual fireworks cruise on the Fourth of July . The cruise features entertainment on

1833-559: The second generation Cape May Lewes Fleet, with the MV Delaware, MV New Jersey and MV Twin Capes replacing the original ferry fleet that was purchased from the Chesapeake Bay and was in operation for the ferry's first 10 years in the mid 1970's. The MV Cape Henlopen and MV Cape May supplemented the first three vessels during the 1980's. The MV Twin Capes was decommissioned in 2014 and the MV Cape May decommissioned in 2010 leaving

1880-401: The third deck consisting of outdoor seating areas, an interior crew room. The pilot house is on the fourth deck. Subsequent renovations changed these plans on the vessels third decks with an exterior bar and a additional passenger lounge up forward on the MV Delaware. Each vessel can hold 100 cars and 800 passengers. All have a length of 320 feet (98 m) and a breadth of 68 feet (21 m),

1927-425: The third deck which included a deli and an outdoor bar with refurbishments to her main passenger lounge on the second deck. New "shark fin" smokestacks were added in 1997 replacing her original stacks. A renovation in 2001 resulted in her second and third decks being extended forward and aft and the outdoor bar moved behind the stacks along with renovations to both interior spaces. A third renovation in 2013 reconfigured

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1974-484: The vessel was up for sale. The vessel's added expense of operation and low use—it had made only fifteen crossings in 2007—were additional factors leading to its removal from service. The owners of Cross Sound Ferry in Connecticut had shown interest in purchasing the ferry. In 2013, the Cape May was sold to Northstar Marine Services for $ 750,000, to be converted to a support vessel for offshore wind farms . In 1926,

2021-603: The world. At the time of the arrival of the Europeans in the early 17th century, the area around the bay was inhabited by the Native American Lenape people. They called the Delaware River "Lenape Wihittuck", which means "the rapid stream of the Lenape". Delaware Bay was called "Poutaxat", which means "near the falls". In 1523, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón had received from Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

2068-632: Was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance on May 20, 1992. It was the first site classified in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network . While the Delaware River is by far the largest tributary of Delaware Bay, numerous smaller rivers and streams also drain to the bay. These include the Appoquinimink River , Leipsic River , Smyrna River , St. Jones River , Mispillion River , Broadkill River and Murderkill Rivers on

2115-405: Was one of the original three vessels of the 1970s fleet, christened in May 1975. She was extensively renovated in a $ 27 million project between 1994 and 1996 resulting in the original superstructure on and above the second deck removed, the second deck extended forward and aft, and a new superstructure with four new decks, multiple lounges, new pilot house and "shark fin" smokestacks added. The vessel

2162-414: Was renovated and expanded in 1999 and a new Cape May terminal building replaced the existing structure, in 2001. Both terminals now feature unique, recognizable "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 from the terminal building, avoiding vehicles driving onto

2209-430: Was then marked as a miniature cruise ship, complete with two sets of elevators, a sweeping interior staircase, interior areas on four different decks, an enlarged retail shop, a food court with a brick pizza oven, four different bars, and a buffet restaurant in a two-deck-tall, glass-enclosed atrium. Although the restaurant was shut down in 2000 after U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors found numerous violations in

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