A cable ferry (known as chain ferry, swing ferry, floating bridge, or punt) is a ferry that is guided (and in some cases propelled) across a river by cables connected to both shores. Early cable ferries used either rope or steelchains, with the latter resulting in the name "chain ferry". Both of these were replaced by wire cable in the 19th century.
Coin-operated cable ferry at Espevær in Bømlo, Norway
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List of cable ferry routes
Current cable ferry routes include:
Albania
Butrint Ferry, across the Vivari Channel near Butrint[1]
Medsave cable ferryMedsave Ferry, across the Sava River (Medsave–Zaprešić) in Zagreb County, overhead cable
Otočanka Ferry, across the Sava River (Otok Samoborski–Savski Marof) in Zagreb County, overhead cable
Oborovo, across the Sava River (Oborovo–Vrbovo Posavsko) in Zagreb County, overhead cable
Martinska ves, 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
Sunjanka, across the Sava River (Graduša Posavska–Lukavec Posavski) in Sisak-Moslavina County, overhead cable
Kratečko, across the Sava River (Kratečko–Sunjsko Selište) in Sisak-Moslavina County, overhead cable
Pitomača Jelkuš Ferry, across the Drava River, in Virovitica–Podravina County
Pitomača Križnica, across the Drava River, in Virovitica–Podravina County
Osijek Zoološki vrt, across the Drava River, Osijek-Baranja County
Czech Republic
Dolní Žleb Ferry, reactive ferry across the Elbe at Dolní Žleb 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 swimming pool, 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
Østre Ferry, across Isefjord between Hammer Bakke and Orø. Uses cables for steering, but propellers for propulsion.
Udbyhøj Ferry, across Randers Fjord.
Estonia
Kavastu Ferry, across Emajõgi in Kavastu (manual mechanism, more than century old flywheel)
Finland
Alassalmi cable ferryKarhun cable ferryKoivukanta ferry in winter and parallel ice road for lighter vehiclesPikkarala ferry wintering on the shore of Oulujoki.
Ahvionsaari Ferry, from Kiviapaja to Ahvionsaari in Savonlinna
Alassalmi Ferry, across Alassalmi strait on lake Oulujärvi between Manamansalo island and mainland
Arvinsalmi Ferry, across Arvinsalmi strait between the municipalities of Rääkkylä and Liperi
Barösund Ferry, across Barösund strait between Barölandet and Orslandet islands
Veckerhagen Ferry, across the Weser between Veckerhagen in Hesse and Hemeln in Lower Saxony
Westerhüsen Ferry, across the Elbe at Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt
Hong Kong
Nam Sang Wai Ferry, Hong Kong
Nam Sang Wai Ferry, at Nam Sang Wai in northwestern New Territories
Hungary
Cable ferry crossing the river Tisza between Tiszatardos and Tiszalök, Hungary.
One cable ferry across the Danube between Csepel and Soroksár, in Budapest[17]
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 (Traghetto di Leonardo) between Imbersago (Lecco) e Villa d'Adda (Bergamo), in Lombardia, in the Ecomuseo Adda di Leonardo da Vinci river museum
Another "Traghetto di Leonardo" across the Tevere river, in Lazio, in the Riserva Naturale di Nazzano natural reserve
Mozambique
Chain ferry being handcranked in Mozambique
Ferry across Shire River, 37km south of Malawi's southernmost border
Netherlands
Hand-powered small cable ferry across Vlaardingervaart, Maasland, the Netherlands
There are about 150 cable ferries in the Netherlands,.[12] About 111 of these are small hand-powered self-service ones and of these 24 use chains.
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
Ferry in Kazimierz Dolny-Janowiec (Poland – Vistula river)Ferry in Gniew (Poland, Vistula river)High-rope ferry in Borusowa on the Vistula River
Biechowy Ferry, across the Warta between Biechowy and Piersk[20]
Borusowa Ferry, across the Vistula between Borusowa and Nowy Korczyn road no. 973[21]
Brody Ferry, across the Oder at Brody road no. 280[22]
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 Grzerorzowice and Ciechowice road no. 421
Janowiec Ferry, across the Vistula between Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec
Korzeniewo Ferry, across the Vistula between Korzeniewo and Opalenie road no. 232
Kozubów Ferry, across the Warta between Kozubów and Osina
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 road no. 872
Waki Ferry, across the Warta at Waki
Slovakia
Perec Ferry, across the Perec distributary of the river Hron, between Starý Tekov and Nový Tekov in Levice district - Foot ferry, came into use in the late 18th century and ceased operations in 2014, replaced by a bridge.
South Africa
Malgas Ferry on the Breede River, Western Cape, South Africa
Malgas Ferry for 2-3 cars, 120 m across the Breede River at Malgas, Western Cape, powered by 2-4 men walking a rope,[23][24] in operation from 1860 to 2019, when it was replaced by a diesel-powered ferry in spite of a petition with over 21000 signatures appealing to save the unique historic crossing.[25]
Octha Ferry at Sendelingsdrift, for 2 cars, across the Garib (Orange) River to Namibia, guided by tethers on high rope, powered by two outboard motors and possibly the water current.[26]
Pas de barca de Miravet, across the Ebro river, in Miravet, Catalonia
Sweden
The Swedish ferry Saga on the Hamburgsund route. The yellow colour is typical for car ferries in Sweden.The Swedish ferry Vaxholmen with its destination, Vaxholm Castle, in the Stockholm Archipelago.