Wednesday, July 19, 2006

No More Parties on North Carolina Ferries

After a little controversy, the NC DOT announced this week that North Carolina's ferries would be used exclusively for hauling vehicles and not for entertaining. That decision comes after $31,000 of state tax money was used to entertain 200 people on board a ferry right before the tall ships event along the Crystal Coast. The ferry was removed from duty for 5 days just before the tall ships event for a fresh coat of paint and replaced with a smaller ferry which resulted in longer waits. The party for state officials and distinguished guests included a seafood buffet and a steel drum band. While many have criticized the decision, some officials have defended it as a way to display the beauty of eastern North Carolina to potential investors. Edgecombe County Commissioner Calvin Anderson was apparently able to close a deal with a Florida based company that will result in $3 million dollar plant and 69 new jobs over the next 3 years. More on the floating party is available from the Wilmington Star. Complete ferry schedules are available in our coastal Carolina travel section.

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