WINTON – The Parker’s cable ferry, one of only three remaining inland cable ferries in North Carolina, returned to service today for the first time in nearly two years.
The ferry, which crosses the Meherrin River in Hertford County, suspended service in November 2018 for a major overhaul of the vessel. The overhaul included a new engine, propulsion system and hydraulics, as well as a complete refurbishment of the vessel’s hull. The overhaul was completed earlier this year, but the ferry’s return to the river was delayed due to COVID-related budget issues. Hunt’s Enterprises of Ahoskie will operate the ferry as an NCDOT contractor.
Unlike the larger boats of the state’s coastal ferry system, cable ferries carry a maximum of two vehicles and are guided across a river by cables connected to both shores. NCDOT has operated the ferry since the 1930s, but versions of the ferry have been around on the Meherrin River since the early 1900s.