The Kalmar Nyckel will sail past Sussex County for the second year in a row.
The replica of the 17th Century Swedish ship that brought the first settlers to Delaware had docked in Lewes each summer for almost two straight decades. Now, it can’t. Silt accumulated in the boat harbor has made low tide too shallow for the Kalmar Nyckel—which draws about 12 feet of water.
“We’re the tall ship of Delaware. We really like to be present in all the ports,” said Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Executive Director Cathy Persells. “So we’re very disappointed.”
The estimated price tag to dredge the harbor is nearly $3 million. And Delaware River and Bay Authority spokesman Jim Salman says several capital improvement projects take precedent over dredging.
“We have a lot of other infrastructure obligations at the Delaware Memorial Bridge and Cape May Lewes Ferry that have to come first,” said Salman. “And while the Kalmar Nyckel is a wonderful attraction, popular with maritime enthusiasts and history buffs and we’ll miss hosting her there, we simply can’t justify the cost.”
Salman adds even if the harbor gets dredged it may only be a temporary fix.
“Silt moves around with the current so it’s one of those things where you could dredge that out and in three or four years the silt would be right back in place,” he said.
This summer the Kalmar Nyckel will visit historic New Castle and sail around its home port of Wilmington. She will also voyage to Virginia and Massachusetts and make a trip up the Hudson River.
