Tall ship Kalmar Nyckel unable to dock in Lewes for 'foreseeable future,' foundation says

For nearly two decades, tourists have flocked to Lewes to see Delaware's iconic tall ship, the Kalmar Nyckel, docked at the Lewes Ferry Terminal finger pier. 

But that tradition seems to be coming to an end. 

Last summer, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation announced that the tall ship would not be able to visit Lewes because of silt, or sediment, buildup at the dock. It hoped to resolve the issue and be back in 2019. 

After months of working with the Delaware River and Bay Authority, however, that dream has come to an end. 

"We have explored many options, but the silt build-up has made it too shallow for the ship to dock, much less sail," said Cathy Parsells, executive director of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. 

“This decision comes with much remorse, as Lewes, Delaware, is an amazing summer destination and has always been one of Kalmar Nyckel’s favorite ports. The ship used to spend a month of the sailing season at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry serving summer visitors." 

Parsells said they had hoped to dredge at the dock so the Kalmar Nyckel could return to Lewes. But the cost to remedy the situation for three years would be nearly $3 million. 

Neither DRBA nor the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation has funding for a project of that magnitude. 

“I would hate to say never, because you never know," Parsells said. "But I think in the near term, with the price tag as it is ... I would say for the foreseeable future unless we can come up with a more economically viable plan." 

Right now the water at the pier is about 9 feet deep, DRBA spokesman James Salmon said. That's deep enough for the ferries, which have a draft of 8 feet, but not for the Kalmar Nyckle, which has a draft of about 12.5 feet. 

“There’s always a chance it can be resolved in the future," Salmon said, though at this point there isn't any indication of when or how. He said the silt is more or less distributed by natural currents, which means it would build up again over time.

So even if the DRBA and foundation spent $3 million, it wouldn't be a permanent fix. 

The DRBA does dredge every once in a while so its ferries can berth, but not necessarily that deep. The farther down you dredge, the more expensive it is, Parsells said. 

DRBA Executive Director Tom Cook said the authority's engineering department did its due diligence by pricing the project out, but just couldn't swing it. 

"We have so many other infrastructure obligations at the bridge and ferry that have to come first," he said in a statement. "While the Kalmar Nyckel is a wonderful attraction that is popular with maritime enthusiasts and history buffs and we’ll miss hosting her at the Lewes Terminal, we simply can’t justify spending that amount of money.”

Launched in 1997, Kalmar Nyckel serves as a floating classroom and an inspirational platform that offers people of all ages a variety of sea- and land-based recreational and educational experiences.

The foundation will continue to offer public sails in Wilmington and Historic New Castle in 2019 as well as onboard crew training programs this spring and summer, Parsells said. 

The Christina River, where the tall ship's home berth is, and the water in the Delaware River outside New Castle are both deep enough to easily navigate.

If you're from Sussex County, you'll have to drive up to see it. 

“We’re disappointed," Parsells said. "And folks that live in Sussex County are disappointed because it was a really neat attraction." 

"We'd really like to be in Lewes." 

To plan a visit to the Kalmar Nyckel shipyard or see its 2019 schedule, visit kalmarnyckel.org.  

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Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.