The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is implementing a fuel surcharge on all vehicle fares starting this week.
The charge is in response to rising fuel prices and volatility in the fuel markets.
Delaware River and Bay Authority spokesman Jim Salmon says the cost to fuel the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has spiked, making the move necessary.
“Starting this Friday (June 1, 2018), there will be a $1 per vehicle surcharge designed to mitigate some of the increase in the fuel costs we’ve been experiencing in the past month or so,” said Salmon.
Salmon notes that the fuel surcharge is determined on a month-to-month basis and will not become a permanent part of fares. Instead, it will turn on and off as the price the DRBA pays for fuel increases or decreases.
“The surcharge is directly related to the price of fuel. We’re going to absorb most of it but we can’t absorb all of it. The Ferry loses money on an annual basis and because of that we’re trying to mitigate that cost,” said Salmon.
Salmon also points out there will be no separate surcharge for passengers and the Ferry will not add the charge to reservations made prior to Friday.
The last time the Ferry a surcharge was added was in March 2014.
