Reaction ferry
A reaction ferry is a cable ferry that uses the reaction of the current of a river against a fixed tether to propel the vessel across the river. Such ferries operate faster and more effectively in rivers with strong currents.
Some reaction ferries operate using an overhead cable suspended from towers anchored on either bank of the river, whilst others use a floating cable attached to a single anchorage that may be on one bank or mid-channel. Where an overhead cable is used a "traveller" is usually installed on the cable and the ferry is attached to the traveller by a bridle cable. To operate the ferry either the bridle cable is adjusted or a rudder is used, causing the ferry to be angled into the current, and the force of the current moves the ferry across the river.
The ferry may consist of a single hull, or two pontoons with a deck bridging them. Some ferries carry only passengers, whilst others carry road vehicles, with some examples carrying up to 12 cars.
Contents
Worldwide usage
Canada
At one time over 30 reaction ferries crossed the rivers of British Columbia, primarily the Fraser River and the Thompson River. Those still operating include:
- Big Bar Ferry, across the Fraser River at Big Bar, British Columbia
- Little Fort Ferry, across the Thompson River in British Columbia
- Lytton Ferry, across the Fraser River at Lytton, British Columbia
- McLure Ferry, across the Thompson River in British Columbia
- Usk Ferry, across the Skeena River in Usk, British Columbia
In Quebec, the small Laval-sur-le-Lac Île-Bizard Ferry operates seasonally across the Rivière des Prairies from Laval-sur-le-Lac to the Île Bizard.
Croatia
Reaction ferries cross the rivers Sava and Drava.
Czech Republic
The Dolní Žleb Ferry crosses the Elbe at Dolní Žleb near Děčín.
Germany
A number of reaction ferries operate in Germany, particularly across the rivers Elbe and Weser. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, they were quite common on the Rhine. Currently operating ferries include:
- Aken ferry, across the Elbe at Aken (Elbe) in Saxony-Anhalt
- Barby Ferry, across the Elbe at Barby in Saxony-Anhalt
- Coswig Ferry, across the Elbe at Coswig in Saxony-Anhalt
- Rathen Ferry, across the Elbe at Rathen in Saxony
- Räbel Ferry, across the Elbe between Räbel 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
- Veckerhagen Ferry, across the Weser between Veckerhagen in Hesse and Hemeln in Lower Saxony
- Westerhüsen Ferry, across the Elbe at Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt
Italy
The Traghetto di Leonardo is a historic reaction ferry across the Adda River at Imbersago. It is reputed to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
Poland
Reaction ferries operate across the rivers Vistula, Oder, Warta, Dunajec and San River
- Opatowiec Ferry, across the Vistula between Opatowiec and Ujście Jezuickie
- Borusowa Ferry, across the Vistula between Borusowa and Nowy Korczyn road no. 973
- Połaniec Ferry, across the Vistula between Połaniec and Gliny Małe
- Świniary Ferry, across the Vistula between Baranów Sandomierski and Świniary road no. 872
- Ciszyca Ferry, across the Vistula between Tarnobrzeg and Ciszyca road no. 758
- Korzeniewo Ferry, across the Vistula between Korzeniewo and Opalenie road no. 232
- Gniew Ferry, across the Vistula between Gniew and Janowo road no. 510
- Grzegorzowice Ferry, across the Oder between Grzerorzowice and Ciechowice road no. 421
- Brzeg Dolny Ferry, across the Oder between Brzeg Dolny and Głoska
- Milsko Ferry, across the Oder between Milsko and Przewóz road no. 282
- Pomorsko Ferry, across the Oder at Pomorsko road no. 281
- Brody Ferry, across the Oder at Brody road no. 280
- Połęcko Ferry, across the Oder between Połęcko and Chlebowo road no. 138
- Kozubów Ferry, across the Warta between Kozubów and Osina
- Waki Ferry, across the Warta at Waki
- Biechowy Ferry, across the Warta between Biechowy and Piersk
- Sławsk Ferry, across the Warta between Sławsk and Węglewskie Holendry
- Pogorzelica Ferry, across the Warta between Pogorzelica and Nowa Wieś Podgórna
- Czeszewo Ferry, across the Warta at Czeszewo
- Dębno Ferry, across the Warta between Dębno and Orzechowo
- Czchów Ferry, across the Dunajec between Czchów and Piaski Drużków
- Otfinów Ferry, across the Dunajec between Otfinów and Pasieka Otfinowska
- Siedliszowice Ferry, across the Dunajec between Siedliszowice and Wietrzychowice
- Krzemienna Ferry, across the San between Krzemienna and Jabłonica Ruska
- Nozdrzec Ferry, across the San between Nozdrzec and Dąbrówka Starzeńska
Spain
The Pas de Barca Ferry on the Ebro river, in Miravet in the Catalonia region of Spain has been operating since the Middle Ages, and continues to use a traditional wooden ferry boat design.
Switzerland
Four ferries cross the Rhine in Basel.[1]
United Kingdom
The Hampton Loade Ferry, which carries passengers only, crosses the River Severn at Hampton Loade in Shropshire. It is operated partly by the current and partly by punting.
United States
Several reaction ferries crossed rivers in the Ozark Mountains of the central United States during the first half of the 20th century. The Akers Ferry across the Current River near Salem in Missouri remains in operation.
See also
References
External links
| Reaction ferries
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