WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard transferred five passengers Saturday off a grounded ferry in Hatteras Inlet.Coast Guard watchstanders were notified at 11:30 a.m. the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation ferry Roanoke was aground. There were three vehicles, five passengers and six crew members aboard the ferry at the time of the grounding.A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water crew launched from Station Hatteras Inlet and arrived on scene to remove passengers from the ferry and to take them to Hatteras Ferry Terminal in Hatteras. Five passengers were transported to the terminal safely.At 11:21 p.m. a tug was successful in refloating the ferry. The ferry was able to transit back to Hatteras North Ferry on its own.No injuries, vessel damage or pollution were reported."The boat crew from Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet was instrumental in safely transferring passengers from the grounded ferry to shore," said Cmdr. John R. Dittmar, Chief of Sector North Carolina's Prevention Department.
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