Reaction ferry

Reaction ferry crossing the Rhine, Basel, Switzerland

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. 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.

Worldwide usage

Canada

The Lytton Ferry across the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada, is a reaction ferry using an overhead cable and traveller, visible in the upper right corner.

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

Laval-sur-le-Lac–Île-Bizard Ferry, Quebec, Canada

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

Dolní Žleb Ferry crosses the Elbe at Dolní Žleb near Děčín. with lower (underwater) cable
Vrané nad Vltavou – Strnady, Vltava river before Prague, with overhead cable

The Aken Ferry, Germany

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

The Westerhüsen Ferry across the Elbe in Germany is a reaction ferry using a floating cable attached to a mid-channel anchorage, to the right of the boat.

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.

Traghetto di Leonardo, Italy

Poland

A number of reaction ferries operate:

Ferry in Czeszewo, Poland (Warta river)

Ferry in Gniew, Poland (Vistula river)

Biechowy Ferry, across the Warta between Biechowy and Piersk^[1]
Borusowa Ferry, across the Vistula between Borusowa and Nowy Korczyn road no. 973^[2]
Brody Ferry, across the Oder at Brody road no. 280^[3]
Brzeg Dolny Ferry, across the Oder between Brzeg Dolny and Głoska
Ciszyca Ferry, across the Vistula between Tarnobrzeg and Ciszyca road no. 758
Czchów Ferry, across the Dunajec between Czchów and Piaski Drużków
Czeszewo Ferry, across the Warta at Czeszewo
Dębno Ferry, across the Warta between Dębno and Orzechowo
Gniew Ferry, across the Vistula between Gniew and Janowo road no. 510
Grzegorzowice Ferry, across the Oder between Grzegorzowice and Ciechowice road no. 421
Kozubów Ferry, across the Warta at Kozubów
Krzemienna Ferry, across the San between Krzemienna and Jabłonica Ruska
Milsko Ferry, across the Oder between Milsko and Przewóz road no. 282
Nozdrzec Ferry, across the San between Nozdrzec and Dąbrówka Starzeńska
Opatowiec Ferry, across the Vistula between Opatowiec and Ujście Jezuickie
Otfinów Ferry, across the Dunajec between Otfinów and Pasieka Otfinowska
Pogorzelica Ferry, across the Warta between Pogorzelica and Nowa Wieś Podgórna
Połaniec Ferry, across the Vistula between Połaniec and Gliny Małe
Połęcko Ferry, across the Oder between Połęcko and Chlebowo road no. 138
Pomorsko Ferry, across the Oder at Pomorsko road no. 281
Siedliszowice Ferry, across the Dunajec between Siedliszowice and Wietrzychowice
Sławsk Ferry, across the Warta between Sławsk and Węglewskie Holendry
Świniary Ferry, across the Vistula between Baranów Sandomierski and Świniary Stare road no. 872
Waki Ferry, across the Warta at Waki

Slovakia

Border-crossing ferry, Záhorská Ves in Slovakia and Angern an der March in Austria

Strečno Ferry, across the river Váh, between Strečno and Nezbudská Lúčka in Žilina District
Vlčany-Selice Ferry, across the river Váh, between Vlčany and Selice in Šaľa District
Záhorská Ves Ferry, across the river Morava, between Záhorská Ves, Malacky District in Slovakia and Angern an der March, Gänserndorf district in Lower Austria, Austria

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.^[4]

Hampton Loade Ferry, England

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.

References

↑ "Prom rzeczny (52.215265,18.434951)" [River ferry (52.215265,18.434951)]. Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
↑ "Prom rzeczny (50.290066,20.801754)" [River ferry (50.290066,20.801754)]. Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
↑ "Prom rzeczny (52.055176,15.42901)" [River ferry (52.055176,15.42901)]. Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
↑ "Fähri-Verein website".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reaction ferries.

BC Ministry of Transportation Marine Division
Picture of the ferry at Lytton across the Fraser River.
History of current-powered ferries in the Ozarks
Catalonia historical and tourist information site

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