Increasing Ferry Security at a NC Barrier Island Park

Tourists and residents who plan to visit the Fort Fisher state park could have their cars searched before they board the ferry from Southport, N.C.

In late September, the N.C. Ferry Division began randomly searching cars boarding ferries at its seven sites throughout the state as part of new maritime security regulations designed to inhibit terrorism.

Private ferries, such as the one from Southport to Bald Head Island, aren't subjected to the regulations that are part of the security plan required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

During the screenings, security officers typically ask for a driver's license, look inside a car and open up trunks. Luggage isn't searched.

But the chances of being searched at the other ferry sites still are slim.

The state has two employees searching cars in the state, and their goal is to search 5 percent of all cars boarding ferries, said Jerry Gaskill, director of the N.C. Ferry Division.

According to last year's statistics, that means the division will search about 55,000 cars this year, he said.

Those two security officers divide the state into two divisions and appear at each ferry landing randomly.

"They sort of work at random and work very independently as long as they get the numbers," Gaskill said.

In the program's infancy, there have been few problems with delays reported, Gaskill said.

But that could change as summer approaches and more tourists try to reach the state's barrier islands.

"September starts our slower season. Easter on to Labor Day is when we're busy," Gaskill said.