Storms impact Ship Island Excursions

After many challenges this year, Ship Island Excursions is dealing with another one in the wake of Hurricane Sally.

Starting tuesday.

- - after many challenges this year- ship island excursions is - dealing with another one in the- wake of hurricane sally.- news 25's grant chighizola has- more on how it impacts their- operations.

- - standup - "2020 has once again provided a big hurdle for ship island- excursions" sot-captain louis skrmetta- "i've been doing this for many years and i can tell you this i- the toughest year we've - ever had."

After delays and operational- shutdowns as a result of the- covid-19 pandemic and tropical- storm cristobal in june, damage- to the ferry landing at ship- island following hurricane sall- have forced them to stop servic- to the island once- again, effectively ending their- season there.

- captain louis skrmetta says a - timeline for repairs at the - landing has not been made - official yet, but they're - already - looking ahead and hoping for an- early start to the next season.- sot-captain louis skrmetta- "we just hope they can get all repairs done by mid-march so we- can start early and - hopefully covid-19 will be- behind us in mid-march" as the national park service's- concessioner for ferry- service to ship island from - march to november 1st - every year, the company has - missed out on around two- thirds of their usual - operational time in 2020.

- sot-louis skrmetta- "we lost memorial weekend, we lost fourth of july weekend, so- it's been - a challenge, it's been tough, - and it's going to be a difficul- winter for us."

In the meantime, skrmetta tells- news 25 ship island - excursions will focus on their- other services for the rest of- this operating season.- sot-louis skrmetta- "we're looking at maybe transitioning over to our - dolphin cruises and sunset- cruises more, giving them more- frequency."

In gulfport, grant chighizola,- news