Abstract:
Next to Washington state, North Carolina has the nation's second-largest ferry system, with twenty-four ferries operating year-round. Besides transporting two million passengers yearly, the ferry system is a lifeline for many communities. In emergencies, ferries assist in hurricane evacuation and also aid in water rescues. Soon selected ferries will become science labs, carrying automated devices to monitor such data as salinity, temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrients in coastal waters.