By Peter Vankevich and Connie Leinbach
Ocracoke Observer
Ed Goodwin is no longer the N.C. Ferry director, Tim Hass, communications officer, confirmed this yesterday. No more details were provided.
Jed Dixon has been named acting director of the division, according to Hass, who said Dixon has been with the ferry division for 14 years, has served as a captain, a superintendent, and most recently as deputy director.
Goodwin was appointed April 7, 2014, by then Gov. Pat McCrory, replacing Harold Thomas, who was reassigned as a Deputy Ferry Director based in Morehead City.
Goodwin championed getting a passenger ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke. A major challenge under his tenure was getting adequate funding for ferry replacement and maintenance.
Last fall, the General Assembly approved funding for the system and replacement boats for an aging fleet. Also, the Assembly gave the go ahead to get a passenger ferry between Ocracoke and Hatteras during tourism system and possibly use the boat elsewhere during the off-season.
Also under Goodwin’s tenure, the short ferry route between Hatteras and Ocracoke was deemed unnavigable due to shoaling, and the U.S. Coast Guard established a natural, longer route farther out into the Pamlico Sound for transit between the island.
More details will follow as they become available.
