Car Ferry History

Car ferries are specially designed ships that can carry road vehicles and trains. These ferries are fitted with tracks for vehicles to get on and off, and they often consist of a front and rear door for easier access to the wharves. The ferries act as link between locations where roads and railroad tracks cannot be built, especially across a water body such as a canal. The Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway Company launched the first car ferries in the year 1833 to serve the Forth and Clyde canal in Scotland. In the United States, the first car ferry came into existence in April, 1836, and it served the Susquehanna River in Maryland.

Car Ferries in the United States

Car ferries in the United States often serve the major canals in North America, but some of them also operate on the sea and lakes. In the US, car ferries are most widely used in Lake Michigan, which is one of the largest lakes in Northern America. These car ferries include:

The S.S. Badger

The S.S. Badger is regarded as a national treasure, having served Lake Michigan since 1953. It is the largest coal-propelled car ferry on the lake, and it can carry both passengers and vehicles. It was originally run by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, but due to financial constraints, it was laid up. It was later reinstated by a wealthy entrepreneur to serve the Great Lakes once again.

The S.S. Spartan

This car ferry was owned by the same company as the S.S. Badger. It was launched in October, 1952, and it served Ludington and other destinations in Wisconsin. Nevertheless, it did not serve for a long time as it was laid up in 1979, and it has never been used again commercially.

Lake Michigan Car Ferry Service

This company was owned by an entrepreneur known as Charles Conrad, who came to the rescue of the S.S. Badger when its operations were in the doldrums. The S.S. Badger was not the only ferry owned by the company, as the company had several other ferries. The owner later retired and left the management roles to his son-in-law.

History of the Lake Michigan Ferry Service

The Ontario Car Ferry Company

The Ontario Car Ferry Company began its operations in the early 1900s, serving the Charlotte Port on Lake Ontario. It launched its first ferry, the Ontario No. 1 in 1907, and this was closely followed by Ontario No. 2. Both ferries were scraped in 1950.

Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company

This Canadian-owned company began its operations as the Grand Trunk Car Ferry Line with the launch of its first ferry, the S.S. Grand Haven. The company later went into receivership before it was re-launched as the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company. Their operations resumed with the acquisition of the S.S. Grand Haven from their receivers. The company’s main docks were relocated from Grand Haven to Muskegon. Apart from the S.S. Grand Haven, the company owned other ferries as well, including the S.S. Milwaukee, S.S. Grand Rapids, and S.S. City of Milwaukee.

Ann Arbor Railroad Car Ferries

The Ann Arbor Railroad Car Ferries started its ferry service with the purchase of the Ann Arbor 1 and Ann Arbor 2 ferries. The company served four major ports on the western side of Lake Michigan. Its total fleet included 8 ferries, which included Ann Arbor 1 to Ann Arbor 7 and the S.S. Wabash.

First Car Ferries in Japan

The first modern car ferries made an appearance in Japan in 1884, and the first Japanese-made car ferries were launched in 1934 by the Wakato Ferry Company. These included the Wakato Maru No. 8 and Wakato Maru No. 9. These ferries were capable of carrying two trucks and four tri-cars each, and they served Osaka, Kobe, and Shikoku.

Overview of Japanese Ferries

Rest of the World

The concept of car ferries has taken a different dimension in the modern world. A project known as the Trans-Asian railway was launched with the aim of connecting Europe and Asia, using an elaborate car ferry system and railway network. Nevertheless, developments and improvements in shipping and air transport have slowed down the project’s progress. Car ferries are still being used in many countries around the world to transport passengers and vehicles across various types of water bodies.

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