For many years, ferries have played a vital role to residents and visitors of Eastern North Carolina. Ferry transportation began in the mid-1920's when Captain J.B.(Toby)Tillett established tug and barge service across Oregon Inlet along North Carolina's Outer Banks.

In 1934, the North Carolina Highway Commission recognized the importance of this service to residents and began subsidizing Tillett's business. These subsidies also kept tolls affordable. In 1942, the Highway Commission began full reimbursement to eliminate the tolls. Tillett was fully subsidized until 1950 when his business was sold to the state.

In 1947, the commission purchased the ferry operation of T.A. Baum, who operated a route that ran across Croatan Sound and linked Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island. This became the first route of the N.C. Ferry System.

Today, the N.C. Department of Transportation's Ferry Division extends over seven routes, has 24 ferries and employs over 400 workers. The operations are supported by a full service shipyard, dredge, military-style landing craft utility vehicles (LCU's), tugs, barges, and other support vessels.

Each year, North Carolina ferries transport over 1.1 million vehicles and more than 2.5 million passengers across five separate bodies of water - the Currituck and Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers.

Ferries also carry essential goods to water-locked communities. Many residents depend on the ferries for transportation to school, work, and other needed services.