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Overview Of Ferries
ince antiquity, man has double-hulled catamarans,
encountered streams and mechanical marvels which displace
rivers barring his path and more than 70,000 metric tons
has found ways to cross them. which are able to take on board
Some of the time, with time, thousands of passengers and their
manpower, and material available, vehicles and travel for hundreds
he was able to build bridges. If of miles in speed, comfort, and
it wasn't possible to make them safety. With the development of
for whatever reason, he found aviation and the rise of fuel
other means of surmounting the prices, the age of the fast
obstacle. Sometimes, it meant a transoceanic liners is long gone,
long detour to skirt or avoid the but the shorter-range ferry is
water or to find a suitable still a very important mode of
fording place. Other times it transportation throughout the
meant using watercraft to take world, whether it be across a
him from one bank to the other. river in India or from across a
Without the use of ferries, it sea, from one country to another.
would've been much harder to get For example, in Sydney,
from one place to another - even Australia, the inter-harbor
to the afterlife, as the legend ferries carry some 18 million
of the Underworld ferryman Charon passengers every year.
and the river Styx tells us.
Ferry Power
Throughout history, many types of
watercraft have been used to The level of available technology
ferry people from one place to has always dictated what sources
another. These ranges from the of motive power were used in
coracle, an ancient circular boat ferries. The first ferries used
which is still used in some parts either muscle power in the form
of the world, to huge of a rower or punter or were
pulled across a short distance by have and are able to burn
a rope or chain. Many of these cheaper, lower-quality fuel.
cable or free ferries are still Because of rising fuel costs and
in use worldwide. environmental concerns, today's
ferry designers are looking to
Sail power was also used. When alternative power sources to
the steam engine was invented, it drive tomorrow's ships such as
was also pressed into service, hybrid engines, wind, and solar
and the first steam ferry began energy.
shuttling passengers between New
York City and Hoboken in 1811. By Types of Ferries
the end of the nineteenth
century, propeller-powered ships There are several main types of
were replacing paddle steamers. ferry. Water taxis and buses ply
Waterscrews were easier to carry passengers over short
operate and maintain. routes, such as in harbors like
Hong Kong, Sydney, Bristol,
Because of the limitations Osaka; and Roll-On Roll-Off
inherent in the reciprocating ferries, or ROROs, are so called
steam engine, the turbine because they have a car deck and
gradually replaced it. It was ramps which open and enable
during and after World War II vehicles to simply drive onto and
that the steam turbine's eventual off them. Double-ended ferries
replacement, the oil-fired are a variation on this, with
engine, was developed to identical bow and stern sections
maturity, becoming so successful which free the ferry from needing
that by 1960 no more steam-driven to turn around after docking.
ships were being built. Hydrofoils, hovercraft, and
Oil-powered engines eliminated catamarans are also used as
the heat losses all steam engines ferries because of the high
speeds they are capable of border-style: solid;
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About the Author:
Rolf Karlsen is very much into ferries and other forms of transportation. He writes about ferries and more on sethson.com. Published At: www.Isnare.com |
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