Captain David Brown

Meet Captain David Brown

A Captains job is to give passengers an enjoyable experience and also safe passage

For Capt. Dave Brown, seeing new things every day is part of the appeal of working on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. But, he also enjoys seeing familiar faces year after year as they make the passage across the Delaware Bay during their annual vacations.

“Our goal is to make sure our passengers get a chance to relax and enjoy the pretty views. And since those views are constantly changing, we hope they’ll keep coming back to sail with us as often as possible,” Brown says.

I grew up in Cape May and always wanted to work on the water, so I had it in mind when I went into the Coast Guard to eventually work for the Ferry. I always had it in mind to work my way up to ferry captain.

Captain Brown

Brown has been with the ferry since 1992, beginning his career as an able-bodied seaman. He had accrued the sea time necessary to sit for the able-bodied-seaman examination during his stint with the U.S. Coast Guard on buoy tenders and search-and-rescue vessels.

“I grew up in Cape May and always wanted to work on the water, so I had it in mind when I went into the Coast Guard to eventually work for the ferry,” Brown says. “I always had it in mind to work my way up to ferry captain.”

After accruing more sea time and sitting for multiple exams, Brown worked his way up to running mate, then pilot and captain. Part of the training also included firefighting and first aid to handle any guest emergencies, from bumps and bruises to heart attacks. The pilot on board is also the medical officer.

“We are not called on very often to use these skills, but we think passengers would like to know that we’re trained and always ready to assist them, should they need us,” Brown says. “It’s our job to give our passengers an enjoyable experience and also a safe passage.”

Fun Facts About Ferry Boats & Ferry History

How many standard vehicles can each Ferry carry?

Each of the current Ferry vessels in the Cape May – Lewes Ferry fleet can carry 100 standard vehicles on the car deck.

How many passengers can each Ferry carry?

Each Ferry vessel in the Cape May – Lewes Ferry fleet can carry 800 passengers (we call them “Foot Passengers”) along with the 100 standard vehicles on the car deck.

If I want to be a Ferry Captain can I start working on the Ferry crew to get there?

Yes you can! Anyone age 18 and over may apply to join the Cape May – Lewes Ferry crew, if you become a crew member you will begin – most likely – as an Ordinary Seaman, and work your way up. This is called the Hawespiper method. Learn more in our blog about Becoming a Ferry Captain.

Where was the first Ferry in the United States?

The first ferry in the United States is the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, which began operating in 1655 across the Connecticut River. This ferry is also the oldest continuously operating one in the country, connecting the towns of Rocky Hill and Glastonbury.