Captain Stan Hansen

Meet Captain Stan Hansen

We carry the most important cargo there is: people

Captain Stan Hansen is what some might call a Captain’s Captain. Now officially retired, he held the title of Port Captain from November 2014 through his retirement in 2018. Hansen began sailing as a Cape May-Lewes Ferry captain in March 2008, with years of prior experience before that on the Bay’s local waters both with the Ferry and other enterprises.

Our ferries on the bay can carry as many as 800 passengers and 100 vehicles, so it's important that we have the most highly trained, experienced crew of professionals to get our passengers to their destination safely and comfortably.

Captain Hansen

In the role of Port Captain, Hansen was responsible both for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry fleet and its sister ship, The Delafort, connecting the water forts of Delaware and New Jersey. The boat sails in season between Delaware City, Fort Delaware and Fort Mott, NJ.

With both operations, “we carry the most important cargo there is: people,” says Hansen. “Our ferries on the bay can carry as many as 800 passengers and 100 vehicles, so it’s important that we have the most highly trained, experienced crew of professionals to get our passengers to their destination safely and comfortably.”

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry requires a crew of between 10 and 14 professionals to operate, including four able-bodied seamen, four additional seamen, a chief engineer and an assistant, along with stewards to run food service and the gift shop. Being prepared for emergencies is a priority for Hansen and his teams.

All of the officers on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry are trained a first responders — and they are constantly honing their skills in this area. “You can’t call 911 when you’re out on the water if someone goes into diabetic shock, or there’s a fire emergency,” Hansen says.

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.