Cable ferry

A cable ferry (including the terms chain ferry, swing ferry, floating bridge, or punt) is a ferry that is guided (and in many cases propelled) across a river or large body of water by cables connected to both shores. Early cable ferries often used either rope or steel chains, with the latter resulting in the alternative name of chain ferry. Both of these were largely replaced by wire cable by the late 19th century.

Types[]

There are three types of cable ferry: the reaction ferry, which uses the power of the river to tack across the current; the powered cable ferry, which uses an engine or electric motors (e.g., the Canby Ferry in the U.S. State of Oregon) to wind itself across; and the fast-disappearing hand-operated type, such as the Stratford-upon-Avon chain ferry in the UK and the Saugatuck Chain Ferry in Saugatuck, Michigan, United States.

Powered cable ferries use powered cogs or drums on board the vessel to pull itself along by the cables. The cables or chains have a considerable amount of slack built into them, in order to sink below the surface as the ferry moves away, allowing other vessels to pass without becoming grounded, snared or trapped. Where a ferry carries both passengers and vehicles the car deck occupies the centre (helping to balance the vessel) and two passenger areas are at the sides, over the tunnels for the chains and the engines. As the ferry cannot steer, a ramp is built at both ends and there is usually a set of controls facing in either direction.

Cable ferries are common where there is little other water-borne traffic that could get snagged in the cable or chains, where the water may be too shallow for other options, or where the river current is too strong to permit the safe crossing of a ferry not attached to the shore. Alignment of the platform at each end of the journey is automatic and, especially for vehicle ferries, safer than a free-moving ferry might be in bad conditions.

A special type are electrically powered overhead-wire ferries like Straussee Ferry, which have an onboard propulsion unit and can float free, but are connected to the overhead wire for power supply, using an electrical cable that slides along the wire as the ferry moves.

Duplicated punts can be provided if capacity of one is not enough. Twin ferries allow one to operate while the other is being maintained.^[1]

History[]

Cable ferries have probably been used to cross rivers and similar bodies of water since before recorded history. Examples of ferry routes using this technology date back to the 13th century (Hampton Ferry in England).

In the early 1900s a cable ferry designed by Canadian engineer William Pitt was installed on the Kennebecasis River near Saint John, New Brunswick in Canada.^[2] There are now eight cable ferries along the Saint John River system in southern New Brunswick. In Canada a cable ferry is proposed to transport automobiles across the Ottawa River in Ontario. There are several in British Columbia: two on the Fraser, one at Lytton, one at Big Bar, three on Arrow Lakes. A suspended cable ferry worked until the 1980s in Boston Bar. A small seasonal reaction ferry carries cars across the Rivière des Prairies from Laval, Quebec (Sainte-Dorothée neighbourhood) to Île Bizard (part of Montreal).

Cable ferries were particularly prominent in early transportation in the Sacramento Delta of California. Dozens of cable ferries operated on the Columbia River in the US northwest, and most have been rendered obsolete by bridges. A suspended cable ferry for railway cars crossed the American River in Northern California.

Most of the road crossings of the Murray River in South Australia are cable ferries operated by the state government using diesel engines. The platforms at the ends can be moved up or down according to the water level. At one time, cable ferries were a primary means of automobile transportation in New South Wales in Australia. In Tasmania, for a century before 1934, the Risdon Punt at Hobart was the only fixed method of crossing the Derwent River within Hobart city limits.

In the fishing village of Tai O on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, the (橫水渡) crossed the Tai O River before a bascule bridge was built.^[3]

The largest and busiest cable ferry is the Torpoint Ferry in Plymouth, England. It was first converted to cable operation in 1831 and currently operates 3 ferries, carrying 8000 vehicles per day. ^[4][5]

Ownership[]

The earliest punts were privately owned by local landowners, and charged a toll. As governments started to build roads, they started to build and operate punts as required. Private punts might be bought out, or made to impose more standard tolls.^[6]

List of cable ferry routes[]

Current cable ferry routes include:

Albania[]

• , across the Vivari Channel near Butrint^[7]

Australia[]

• Berowra Waters Ferry, at Berowra Waters in New South Wales
• ^[8]
• , at Bombah Point^[9]
• , across the Murray River at Cadell, South Australia^[10]
• Daintree River Ferry, across the Daintree River in Queensland
• , across the Hastings River near Port Macquarie, New South Wales^[11][12]
• Lawrence Ferry, across the Clarence River in New South Wales^[13][14]
• Lower Portland Ferry, across the Hawkesbury River near the village of Lower Portland, New South Wales
• , across the Murray River at Lyrup, South Australia^[10]
• , across the Murray River at Mannum, South Australia (two parallel ferries)^[10]
• Moggill Ferry, across the Brisbane River near Ipswich, Queensland^[15]
• , across the Murray River in Morgan, South Australia^[10]
• Mortlake Ferry, across the Parramatta River in Sydney, New South Wales
• , across the Murray River at Narrung, South Australia^[10][16]
• Noosa River Ferry, across the Noosa River in Queensland^[17]
• , across the Murray River in Purnong, South Australia^[10]
• Raymond Island Ferry, chain ferry from Paynesville to Raymond Island in Victoria
• Sackville Ferry, across the Hawkesbury River near the village of Sackville, New South Wales
• , across the Hastings River near Port Macquarie, New South Wales^[11][12]
• Speewa Ferry, across the Murray River between New South Wales and Victoria at Speewa
• , across the Murray River in Swan Reach, South Australia^[10]
• , across the Murray River in Tailem Bend, South Australia^[10]
• Ulmarra Ferry, across the Clarence River in New South Wales^[14]
• , across the Murray River in Waikerie, South Australia^[10]
• , across the Murray River in Walker Flat, South Australia^[10]
• Webbs Creek Ferry, across the Hawkesbury River in the village of Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales
• , across the Murray River in Wellington, South Australia^[10]
• Wisemans Ferry, across the Hawkesbury River in the village of Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales
• Wymah Ferry, across the Murray River between New South Wales and Victoria

Austria[]

• , across the Danube River at Klosterneuburg
• , across the Danube River at Ottensheim

Belize[]

• , across the Mopan River at Xunantunich

Canada[]

• , across the Abitibi River near Cochrane, Ontario

• , across Adams Lake in British Columbia^[18]
• Baynes Sound Connector, across Baynes Sound from Buckley Bay to Denman Island in British Columbia. The longest cable ferry in the world at the time of its opening.^[19]
• Belleisle Bay Ferry, across Belleisle Bay in New Brunswick
• Big Bar Ferry, across the Fraser River at , British Columbia
• Bleriot Ferry, across the Red Deer River near Drumheller, Alberta^[20]
• Clarkboro Ferry, across the South Saskatchewan River near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• Country Harbour Ferry, across Country Harbour near Port Bickerton, Nova Scotia.
• Crowfoot Ferry, across the Bow River in Alberta^[20]
• Ecolos Ferry, across Ottawa River between Clarence-Rockland ON and Thurso QC
• Englishtown Ferry, across the mouth of in Nova Scotia
• Estuary Ferry, across the South Saskatchewan River near Estuary, Saskatchewan
• Evandale Ferry, across the Saint John River in New Brunswick
• Finnegan Ferry, across the Red Deer River in Alberta^[20]
• Gagetown Ferry, across the Saint John River in New Brunswick
• GladeFerry, across the Kootenay River in British Columbia^[18]
• Gondola Point Ferry, across the Kennebecasis River in New Brunswick
• Hampstead Ferry, across the Saint John River in New Brunswick
• Harrop Cable Ferry, across Kootenay Lake in British Columbia^[18]
• Howe Island ferries, across the Bateau Channel, St Lawrence River, Ontario
• Kennebecasis Island Ferry, across the Kennebecasis River in New Brunswick
• , across the Athabasca River in Alberta^[20]
• , across the LaHave River in Nova Scotia
• Lancer Ferry, across the South Saskatchewan River near Lancer, Saskatchewan
• Laval-sur-le-Lac Île-Bizard Ferry, across the Rivière des Prairies between Montreal and Laval, Quebec
• Lemsford Ferry, across the South Saskatchewan River near Lemsford, Saskatchewan
• Little Fort Ferry, across the North Thompson River in British Columbia^[18]
• , across the Little Narrows of in Nova Scotia
• Low Bar Ferry, across the Fraser River at High Bar, British Columbia
• Lytton Ferry, across the Fraser River at Lytton, British Columbia
• McLure Ferry, across the North Thompson River in British Columbia^[18]
• Needles Cable Ferry, across Lower Arrow Lake in British Columbia
• , across Ottawa River between Fitzroy Harbour ON & Quyon, QC
• Riverhurst Ferry, across Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan
• , across the McLeod River near Edson, Alberta^[20]
• Simcoe Island Ferry, between Wolfe Island and Simcoe Island, St Lawrence River, Ontario
• Usk Ferry, across the Skeena River at Usk, British Columbia^[18]
• Westfield Ferry, across the Saint John River in New Brunswick

Chile[]

• Balseo de San Javier, across San Pedro River, Los Ríos Region.^[21]

Croatia[]

• , across the Sava River (Otok Samoborski–Savski Marof) in Zagreb County, overhead cable
• 

  Medsave cable ferry
  Medsave Ferry, across the Sava River (Medsave–Zaprešić) in Zagreb County, overhead cable
• , across the Sava River (Oborovo–Vrbovo Posavsko) in Zagreb County, overhead cable
• , across the Sava River (Dubrovčak Lijevi–Dubrovčak Desni) in Sisak-Moslavina County, overhead cable
• Tišina, across the Sava River (Tišina Kaptolska–Tišina Erdedska) in Sisak-Moslavina County, overhead cable
• , across the Sava River (Graduša Posavska–Lukavec Posavski) in Sisak-Moslavina County, overhead cable
• , across the Sava River (Kratečko–Sunjsko Selište) in Sisak-Moslavina County, overhead cable
• , across the Drava River, in Virovitica–Podravina County
• , across the Drava River, in Virovitica–Podravina County
• , across the Drava River, Osijek-Baranja County

Czech Republic[]

• Dolní Žleb Ferry, reactive ferry across the Elbe at near Děčín, lower cable
• Vrané nad Vltavou – Strnady, reactive ferry across the Vltava before Prague, with overhead cable
• Klecánky – Roztoky ferry over the Vltava under Prague, secured by overhead cable
• Máslovice, Dol - Libčice ferry over the Vltava under Prague, secured by lower cable
• Lužec nad Vltavou ferry over the Vltava, secured by overhead cable
• Zlenice - Senohraby swimpool, ferry over the Sázava river, overhead security cable installed but usually unused
• Oseček ferry, Elbe river, formerly secured by overhead cable, now without it
• Kazín ferry, Berounka river, 1992–2007 propelled through lower chain, since 2015 unsecured boat
• Nadryby ferry, Berounka river, secured by the overhead cable
• Darová ferry, Berounka river, propelled through the overhead cable

Denmark[]

• , across Isefjord between Hammer Bakke and Orø. Uses cables for steering, but propellers for propulsion.
• , across Randers Fjord.

Estonia[]

• , across Emajõgi in Kavastu (manual mechanism, more than century old flywheel)

Finland[]

• Ahvionsaari Ferry, from Kiviapaja to Ahvionsaari in Savonlinna
• Alassalmi Ferry, across Alassalmi strait on lake Oulujärvi between island and mainland
• , across Arvinsalmi strait between the municipalities of Rääkkylä and Liperi
• , across Barösund strait between and islands
• , in Bergö
• Föri in Turku
• , in Enonkoski
• , across Hirvisalmi strait between the mainland and island in Juuka
• , across Hämmärönsalmi strait (Rimito-Hanka) in Rimito, Nådendal (part of r. road 1890)
• , between and Storlandet islands in Nagu, Väståboland (part of r. road 12019)
• , between the mainland and the island of , Ii
• , between and Iniö islands in Iniö, Väståboland
• Kietävälänvirta Ferry, between Partalansaari and Viljakansaari in Puumala (part of road 15176)
• Koivukanta Ferry, to Kesamonsaari in Savonlinna
• Kokonsaari Ferry, from Kesamonsaari to Kokonsaari in Savanlinna
• , between Roslax on mainland Houtskär and islands in Houtskär, Väståboland
• , between Kokkila on the mainland and Angelniemi on Kimitoön (part of r. road 1835)
• Kuparonvirta Ferry, between Hirvensalo and Anttola in Mikkeli (part of road 15147)
• , between Utula and Kyläniemi
• , between Kasnäs and islands in Hitis, Kimitoön (part of r. road 1830)
• , between and islands in Houtskär, Väståboland (part of regional road 12003)
• , between the mainland and the island of Pellinki
• , between and Utö islands in Finby, Salo
• Pikkarala Ferry, across Oulujoki river in Pikkarala, Oulu
• Potkusalmi Ferry, to Ritosaari in Savonlinna
• , in Kuopio
• Rongonsalmi Ferry, between Viljakansaari and Lieviskä in Puumala, (part of road 15170)
• , between mainland Houtskär and islands in Houtskär, Väståboland (part of r. road 12005)
• , between Jumo and Iniö islands in Iniö, Väståboland (part of r. road 12230)
• , between and islands in Ekenäs, Raseborg
• , Tappuvirrantie
• Tuohisaari Ferry, from Liistonsaari to Tuohisaari in Savonlinna
• , between and Kivimaa islands in Kustavi (part of r. road 192)
• Vekaransalmi Ferry, between Säviönsaari and Vekaransaari in Sulkava (part of road 438)
• , between and islands in Pargas, Väståboland (part of r. road 12027)

Åland[]

• , across Björkösund strait between the islands of Korsö (in Kumlinge municipality) and Bockholm (in Brändö m.)
• , across Embarsund strait in Föglö municipality, between the islands of Finholma and Jyddö
• , across Prästösund strait between the islands of Töftö (in Vårdö municipality) and Prästö (in Sund m.)
• , across the strait between the islands of Seglinge and Snäckö (both in Seglinge village in Kumlinge municipality)
• , across the strait between the islands of Alören and Östra Simskäla (both in Vårdö municipality)
• , across Ängösund strait between the islands of Lumparland (in municipality) and Ängö (in Vårdö m.)

France[]

• Bac du Sauvage Ferry, across a branch of the Rhône in the Camargue

Gambia[]

• Bansang Ferry, across the River Gambia at Bansang in the Central River Division

Germany[]

• , across the Elbe at Aken in Saxony-Anhalt
• Barby Ferry, across the Elbe at Barby in Saxony-Anhalt
• Caputh Ferry, across the Havel at Caputh in Brandenburg
• Coswig Ferry, across the Elbe at Coswig in Saxony-Anhalt
•  [de], across the Rhine from Lottstetten in Baden-Württemberg to Marthalen in Switzerland
• Ferchland Grieben Ferry, across the Elbe between and Grieben in Saxony-Anhalt
• Ketzin Cable Ferry, across the Havel at Ketzin in Brandenburg
• Kiewitt Ferry, across the Havel at Potsdam in Brandenburg
• Maintal–Dörnigheim Ferry, across the Main near Maintal in Hesse
• Friesenheimer Insel – Sandhofen Ferry, across an old arm of the Rhine in Mannheim
• Pritzerbe Ferry, across the Havel between Havelsee and in Brandenburg
• Rathen Ferry, across the Elbe at Rathen in Saxony
• , across the Elbe between and Havelberg in Saxony-Anhalt
• Rothenburg Ferry, across the Saale at Rothenburg in Saxony-Anhalt
• Sandau Ferry, across the Elbe at Sandau in Saxony-Anhalt
• Straussee Ferry, across the Straussee at Strausberg in Brandenburg
• Teterower See Ferry, to an island in the Teterower See in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• Veckerhagen Ferry, across the Weser between Veckerhagen in Hesse and Hemeln in Lower Saxony
• Westerhüsen Ferry, across the Elbe at Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt
• , across the Oste at in Lower Saxony

Hong Kong[]

• , at Nam Sang Wai in northwestern New Territories

Hungary[]

• One cable ferry across the Danube between Csepel and Soroksár, in Budapest^[22]
• A cable ferry crosses the Tisza between Tiszalök and Tiszatardos

Ireland[]

• A cable ferry serves Little Island and Waterford Castle in the River Suir

Italy[]

• Two cable ferries across the port of Cesenatico, in Romagna
• One cable ferry across the port of Bellaria-Igea Marina, in Romagna
• An engineless cable ferry () between Imbersago (Lecco) e Villa d'Adda (Bergamo), in Lombardia, in the river museum
• Another "Traghetto di Leonardo" across the Tevere river, in Lazio, in the natural reserve

Mozambique[]

• Ferry across Shire River, 37 km south of Malawi's southernmost border

Netherlands[]

There are more than 100 cable ferries in the Netherlands,^[23] 11 of which use a floating cable with a single anchorage. The larger ones are usually powered by a diesel-powered screw propeller, the smaller ones often use the cable for propulsion. Most of the larger cable ferries angle themselves in the stream to gain part of their propulsion from the current, as a reaction ferry.

Some examples:

• Cuijk ferry, across the Meuse at Cuijk
• Genemuiden ferry, across the Zwarte Water at Genemuiden
• Jonen ferry, across the Walengracht at Jonen, only taking foot passengers and cyclists, winched to the other bank by an electric motor on one of the banks.
• Lexkesveer, across the Nederrijn near Wageningen, first mentioned in 1426
• Oijen Ferry, across the Meuse at
• Wijhe Ferry, across the IJssel at Wijhe
• Wijk bij Duurstede ferry, across the Lek. This one uses a floating cable.

New Zealand[]

• , in

Norway[]

• , across lake Nisser in Nissedal, Telemark^[24]
• , in Bømlo, Hordaland
• , in Nordhordland
• , in Gulen, Sogn og Fjordane^[25]

Poland[]

• , across the Warta between and Piersk^[26]
• , across the Vistula between Borusowa and Nowy Korczyn road no. 973^[27]
• , across the Oder at Brody road no. 280^[28]
• , across the Oder between Brzeg Dolny and Głoska
• , across the Vistula between Tarnobrzeg and Ciszyca road no. 758
• , across the Dunajec between Czchów and
• , across the Warta at Czeszewo
• , across the Warta between Dębno and
• , across the Vistula between Gniew and Janowo road no. 510
• , across the Oder between and Ciechowice road no. 421
• , across the Vistula between Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec
• , across the Vistula between Korzeniewo and Opalenie road no. 232
• , across the Warta between Kozubów and
• , across the San between Krzemienna and Jabłonica Ruska
• , across the Oder between Milsko and Przewóz road no. 282
• , across the San between Nozdrzec and Dąbrówka Starzeńska
• , across the Vistula between Opatowiec and Ujście Jezuickie
• , across the Dunajec between Otfinów and Pasieka Otfinowska
• , across the Warta between Pogorzelica and Nowa Wieś Podgórna
• , across the Vistula between Połaniec and Gliny Małe
• , across the Oder between Połęcko and Chlebowo road no. 138
• , across the Oder at Pomorsko road no. 281
• , across the Dunajec between Siedliszowice and Wietrzychowice
• , across the Warta between Sławsk and
• , across the Vistula between Baranów Sandomierski and Świniary road no. 872
• , across the Warta at Waki

Slovakia[]

• , across the Perec distributary of the river Hron, between Starý Tekov and Nový Tekov in - Foot ferry, came into use in the late 18th century and ceased operations in 2014, replaced by a bridge.

South Africa[]

• , across the Breede River at Malgas, Western Cape

South Korea[]

• Abai village ferry in Sokcho^[29]

Spain[]

• , across the Ebro river, in Flix, Catalonia
• , across the Ebro river, in Miravet, Catalonia

Sweden[]

•  [sv], in Lake Mälaren from Munsö to Adelsö^[30]
•  [sv], in from to ^[31]
•  [sv], between and on ^[32]
•  [sv], in Lake Mälaren from Oknö to Arnö^[33]
•  [sv], across Lule River from Avan to ^[34]
•  [sv], across from to ^[35]
•  [sv], from Malmön to ^[36]
• , across in Strömstad^[37]
•  [sv], across Lake Bolmen from to Bolmsö^[38]
•  [sv], across Hamburgsund from Hamburgsund to ^[39]
• , from to ^[40]
•  [sv], across Byälven from to ^[41]
•  [sv], across Storsjön from Isön to ^[42]
•  [sv], across Ivö Lake between and Ivö Island^[43]
•  [sv], across the Nordre älv between and ^[44]
• , across from Nordkoster to Sydkoster^[45]
•  [sv], between the islands of and Orust^[46]
•  [sv], between the islands of and Orust^[47]
•  [sv], across the Kalix river at ^[48]
•  [sv], across the between and ^[49]
•  [sv], across the Stora Le lake^[47]
• , across the Göta Canal in Töreboda^[50]
• , across Lake Sommen from to Blåvik^[51]
• Vaxholmen Ferry, from the town of Vaxholm to Vaxholm Castle
• , from to ^[52]

Switzerland[]

•  [de], four routes across the Rhine in the city of Basel
•  [de], across the Rhine from Marthalen to Lottstetten in Germany
•  [de], across the Limmat river at Fahr Abbey

United Kingdom[]

• Butts Ferry, across the River Exe in Exeter, Devon
• Cowes Floating Bridge, across the River Medina on the Isle of Wight
• Dartmouth Higher Ferry, across the River Dart in Devon
• Hampton Ferry, across the River Avon near Evesham in Worcestershire
• Hampton Loade Ferry, across the River Severn in Shropshire (closed 2016)
• King Harry Ferry, across the River Fal in Cornwall
• Normanton-on-Soar Chain Ferry, across the River Soar in Nottinghamshire
• Reedham Ferry, across the River Yare in Norfolk
• Sandbanks Ferry, across the entrance to Poole Harbour in Dorset
• Stratford-upon-Avon Ferry, across the River Avon at Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire
• Symonds Yat river crossings, a pair of hand powered ferries across the River Wye in Herefordshire
• Torpoint Ferry, across the River Tamar between Devon and Cornwall.
• Trowlock Island Ferry, a hand powered ferry to Trowlock Island in the River Thames in south-western Greater London
• Windermere Ferry, across Windermere in Cumbria

United States[]

• , across the Current River near Salem in Missouri
• , across the intracoastal waterway to Avoca Island near Morgan City in Louisiana
• Bemus Point-Stow Ferry, across Chautauqua Lake in New York
• Buena Vista Ferry, across the Willamette River in Oregon
• Canby Ferry, across the Willamette River in Oregon
• Los Ebanos Ferry, across the Rio Grande between Los Ebanos, Texas and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas
• Elwell Ferry, across the Cape Fear River in North Carolina
• Fredericktown Ferry, closed in 2013 across the Monongahela River in southwestern Pennsylvania^[53]
• , across the Green River in Mammoth Cave National Park
• Hatton Ferry, across the James River in Virginia
• Ironton Ferry, across an arm of Lake Charlevoix in Michigan
• J-Mack Ferry, across an arm of the Sacramento River in California^[54][55]
• Merrimac Ferry, across the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin
• , across the Corrotoman River in Virginia
• Parker's Ferry, across the Meherrin River in North Carolina
• , across the Sacramento River in California^[55]
• Reed's Ferry, across the Green River northeast of Rochester, KY
• Rochester Ferry, across the Green River in Rochester, KY
• Sans Souci Ferry, across the Cashie River in North Carolina
• Saugatuck Chain Ferry, across the Kalamazoo River in Michigan
• , across the Little Wicomico River in Virginia
• , across the Potomac River in Maryland
• , across Lake Champlain between Ticonderoga, New York and Shoreham, Vermont
• Upper Ferry, across the Wicomico River in Maryland^[56]
• Valley View Ferry, across the Kentucky River in Kentucky
• Wheatland Ferry, across the Willamette River in Oregon
• White's Ferry, across the Potomac River in Maryland
• Whitehaven Ferry, across the Wicomico River at Whitehaven, Maryland^[56]
• Woodland Ferry, across the Nanticoke River in Delaware^[56]

Zambia[]

• , across the Chambeshi River near Mbesuma
• Kabompo Ferry, across the Kabompo River 80 km south-east of Kabompo
• , across the Kafue River 4.5 km west of the Zambezi

Zimbabwe[]

• , across the Insiza River downstream of Filabusi

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

• Media related to Cable ferries at Wikimedia Commons
• Twyford chain ferry on the River Trent, UK, 1899
• Cable ferries operating in New Brunswick, Canada