The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(WILMINGTON, N.C.) — The Coast Guard is transferring passengers Monday off a grounded ferry in Hatteras Inlet.
Coast Guard watch standers were notified at 2:20 p.m. that the North Carolina Department of Transportation ferry Roanoke was aground. There were 16 vehicles, 23 passengers and seven crewmembers aboard the ferry at the time of the grounding.
A 29-foot response boat-small crew launched from Station Hatteras Inlet and is on scene to take passengers off the ferry and relocate them to Hatteras Ferry Terminal in Hatteras.
There are no reported injuries and no report or evidence of damage or pollution.
Plans are being developed to refloat the ferry.
