Talk:Ferry

Template:WikiProject Maritime Trades Isn't it a bit anglocentric to claim that 'the most notable ferry route' is the one from England to France? What's so notable about it?

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This page describes a Ferry as a Boat or a Ship. The shipping industry does refer to ferries as ships.. ever. A fishing BOAT is never called a ship either.

The large ferries are ships.Egil 12:03, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)

First

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada has a continously operating ferry service connecting it to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on the other side of Halifax Harbour which was started in 1752 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmouth%2C_Nova_Scotia )

This ^ page doesn't say it is the oldest in the world, just that it's the oldest in North America. But still...that's obviously older than the Sundbåt (1876) listed here. I think it should be changed to say Halifax's is oldest until an older one than 1752 can be found??? Mícheál 02:23, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

The first ferry in NA was was most likely an Indian with a canoe. --Gbleem 02:18, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

I came in to make the case for the Woodland Ferry in operation since 1793, but it seems to be trumped by the Halifax Ferry. Looking at the Delawar Historical archives[1], it seems that Ferry Service was running @ that site since 1740, but I'm not sure if service has been continuous.Carnifex 17:43, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

Connecticut seems to have those beat with the Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry, running since 1655. Denimadept 20:36, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Now that I think about it, there's also the ferry in Perth, Scotland, though that's not running now.

Shortest

• The Svelvik ferry connection is 140 meters.
• The Lille Herbern ferry is probably 40 meters
• The Woodland Ferry spans the Nanticoke River at a distance of 118 meters, and operates year round. Carnifex 17:53, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

Why only on short-distance? On rivers yes, but there must be plenty of sea ferry routes which are anything but. Sorry to be anglocentric, but the North Sea springs to mind. What's the longest ferry route? It's probably in the 3rd world, but the longest in Europe must be Denmark to Iceland which takes something like 4 days (with stops on the way).--JBellis 19:42, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC)

What about ferries across rivers, or canals, eg all the crossings over the Grand Canal in Venice? They must be pretty short!

The F24 is a public pax ferry of the BVG in Berlin, Germany, utilizes a rowed boat and may be as short as 40 ft. KapHorn (talk) 09:20, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

List of ferry operators

This list would be more suitable for a article in its own right as it is clearly an incomplete list with much room for expansion. Does anyone object?--JBellis 20:33, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

(Speaking just for me...) Not me. Atlant 23:55, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

I removed the list of 30 external links to ferry companies around the world; that info is already duplicated in List of ferry operators. --NormanEinstein 14:32, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

Ferry Disasters

Shouldn't there be a list of ferry disasters here (or at least some discussion of them). Sorry, I'm too much of a rookie to work out how/what to do myself. Jaegen 20:47, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

--The Herald_of_Free_Enterprise disaster (see list of related disasters at the base of the page) is a disaster unique to RORO ferries (Bow door failure) and would make a good starting point. Due to the 'drive on' nature of vehicle ferries there is more risk from fire (lots of uncheked vehicles with fuel etc.) I can't find an artical on ship safety, which would be a useful adition.

A list of ferry disasters would be a big (I'm talking big here!) list. I wouldn't be a bad idea though, if I knew a few more disasters I could start an article about it, although I would never get around to it --Legolost 14:41 13th July 2006 (UTC)

Definition

Regular passenger service? Does that mean cruise ships are ferries? --Gbleem 02:15, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

No. Ferrys have fixed routes, cruise ships flexible destinations, depending on season, fashion and such. KapHorn (talk) 09:22, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Ferry vs. Bridge discussion

Shouldn't the article on ferries incorporate a discussion on the criteria that a government would use in deciding whether to replace a ferry service with a bridge?

Examples that come to mind (from my home country):

Tadoussac - Baie-Ste-Catherine ferry - regular, frequent, free service over a section of the Saguenay fjord deemed too wide and too deep to make bridge construction economically viable.

Île aux Coudres ferry - covers a relatively short distance, but is there enough demand for a bridge?

Cape Tormentine NB - Borden PEI ferry - replaced with the Confederation Bridge. Blanchardb 17:28, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Longest FREE ferry

I think we need to add a section or comment about the longest free ferry in North America/the world. Here is a couple of links I found to give an example. The shortest and the first is listed so I think this would make a very good addition. Thanks!!! http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1V26 or http://www.selkirkloop.org/index.php?msid=10&smid=4

edited on March 5, 2008 from Invermere, BC

The problem is that, if it is incorporated in the article, we need an external, reliable source making the statement. I would risk saying that the Tadoussac - Baie-Ste-Catherine ferry, in Quebec, is a likely candidate for this title. --Blanchardb-^{Me•MyEars•MyMouth}-timed 01:33, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Pontoon Ferry Picture

My experience with ferries of the type shown in the picture is that the connection between the tug and the pontoon is by a pivot pin in the center of the side of the pontoon. To change direction the tug swings around on the pivot. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.76.96.16 (talk) 17:13, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

Woolwich Ferry & other free ferries

I don't know about any of the other free ferries in the article, but the Woolwich Free Ferry is definitely not a chain ferry. Why is it/are they mentioned in a section titled 'cable ferries'? --Peeky44 (talk) 14:40, 5 August 2008 (UTC)