1. Heath Gehrke
Director of Operations
The Cape May – Lewes Ferry

2. Cape May – Lewes Ferry
- History
- Ferry Service Today
- Vessels & Terminals
- Tourism Activities

3. History
 Feb 1895 – DE authorized Queen Ann’s RR to extend to
Rehoboth and then on to Cape May via steamship.
 1926 – Baltimore developer purchases 3 of 12 concrete
ships built for troop transport during WWI for use as a
ferry landing.
 1953 – NJ Legislature authorized construction
and operation of a ferry to connect GSP with
DE.

4. History
 1962 – Compact created by legislatures of DE & NJ and
by Act of Congress to form DRBA.
 DRBA responsible to manage DMB and all “crossings”
over the DE River & Bay between the two states.
Mandated to address need for another bay crossing.
 Governed by 6 Commissioners
from each state, appointed by
the Governor

5. History
- SS Pocahontas
- SS Princess Anne
- SS DelMarVa
- MV Cape Henlopen

6. • 1963 – DRBA Commission passes resolution
proposing ferry crossing.
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry service begins July 1, 1964
• Ferry operates 24 hours/day then reduced to 16
hours/day in 1975
• 1972 – DRBA signs contract to build 3 new vessels
• 1981 – Fourth vessel MV NewDel
(later renamed MV CH)
• 1994-1998 – Vessel refurbishments
$54.4 million
History

7. Cape May – Lewes Ferry
 Annually
 750,000 passengers
 280,000 vehicles
 Heavily Seasonal
 8 to 28 departures per
day depending on
season.

8. 56%
24%
20%
<2 Trips 2 - 6 Trips >6 Trips
Passengers
 Demographics
 50% of customers are from three local counties:
Cape May & Atlantic, NJ & Sussex, DE
 Usage profile:

9. Employees
 141 permanent employees
 250-300 seasonal employees
 About 80% in NJ,
20% based in DE

10. Terminals
- Cape May
- Lewes

11. Vessels

12. Tourism Activities
 Tours & Packages
 Cape May Zoo Trip
 Cape May Guided Tour
 Lewes Historic Trolley Tour
 Atlantic City Tours
 Maritime History Tours

13. Group Tours / Private Parties

14. Theme Cruises
 “Rock the Boat” Cruise
 Tropical Tuesday Cruise
- Marine Naturalist
Program
- Wine Lover’s
Cruise

15. Special Events
 Escape the Cape
- Maritime Day
- Brewfest
- Concerts on
the Green
- 50th Anniversary

16. Conclusion
THANK-YOU!
www.CMLF.com
Heath Gehrke