Officials with Coast Rapid Transit Authority said they will restart the bid process for the Sandy Island ferry service, after the lone bid submitted for the job came in over budget.

The process of selecting a boat and a captain for the service has taken another turn, as only one person submitted a bid of $263,000 a year, said Myers Rollins, director of Coast RTA.

The bid wasn't accepted, and a full report on how the search will now be conducted will be held Nov. 20 in County Council chambers, he said.

The budget for the service could depend on how many times the boat crosses over to Sandy Island per week.

The initial plan was to have the ferry boat operating throughout the week.

“We want to explore whether we phase this service in, rather than go seven days,” Rollins said.

Meanwhile, the school bus boat will continue to operate until a suitable vessel can be found for a ferry service.

During the upcoming meeting of the Sandy Island committee, the group will try to develop other ideas on how to get service, Rollins said.

The bid process could expand to include a larger group of people, Rollins said.

The committee could choose to go outside Georgetown County to seek bids for the ferry service.

Bids for service

The first effort to receive bids asked for input  from captains who were interested in having the job, Rollins said.

Three people came forward and said they might be interested in providing their boat, and piloting skills, for the ferry service.

County and RTA transportation officials said last month that only one person submitted a bid to run the ferry service.

The bidder was from Georgetown County, Rollins said.

That person’s name was not released.

During that meeting, Rollins said the boat would have to be inspected to make sure it fit the requirements for the ferry service.

The current school bus boat cannot be used for a daily ferry service, he said. The boat, which was built in the 1960s, is not sturdy enough for repeat trips across the water.

Safe transport

It has been 30 years since Sandy Island residents began asking for safe transportation across the Waccamaw River.

The school bus boat now carries children and senior citizens to Sandy Island, Rollins said.

Emergency workers and some county employees can also ride on the boat, if needed.

Others need special permission to be allowed to take trips to Sandy Island on the boat.

Special legislation last year in the General Assembly allowed the boat to be used by more than students for transportation to the Island.

Tragic accident

A Feb. 18 accident took the lives of three people.

A small cross near the landing reminds boaters of drowning victim Rishard Pyatt, 18. Pyatt went down with Lou Ann Robinson, 47, and Shaquatia Robinson, 19, on Feb. 18.

A baby and the boat pilot, Tiffany Tucker, survived.