Westfield Ferry
Encyclopedia
The Westfield Ferry is a cable ferry
in the Canadian
province of New Brunswick
. The ferry crosses the Saint John River, linking Grand Bay-Westfield
on the west bank to Hardings Point on the east bank.
The crossing is 0.7 kilometre (0.434960915654865 mi) in length, takes 5 minutes, and free of tolls. Two ferries operate on the crossing, carrying up to 15 or 18 cars at a time respectively. The service operates with a single ferry 24 hours a day all year, with the second ferry brought into service at busy periods. It is operated by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation
.
On 15 October 1996, the Westfield Ferry suffered a cable failure whilst the vessel was in mid-river. In high winds and waves, the drifting ferry was carried down river for about two hours, until the ferry was eventually rescued by a tugboat
. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada
conducted an investigation, and determined that the cable failed due to wear and corrosion of the cable. Concerns were raised about the level of training for the crew, and the lack of provision of an anchor
on the ferry.
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. The ferry crosses the Saint John River, linking Grand Bay-Westfield
Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick
Grand Bay-Westfield is a Canadian suburban town in the western part of Kings County, New Brunswick.The town is an amalgamation of the original town of Grand Bay and the neighbouring village of Westfield immediately to the north....
on the west bank to Hardings Point on the east bank.
The crossing is 0.7 kilometre (0.434960915654865 mi) in length, takes 5 minutes, and free of tolls. Two ferries operate on the crossing, carrying up to 15 or 18 cars at a time respectively. The service operates with a single ferry 24 hours a day all year, with the second ferry brought into service at busy periods. It is operated by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation (New Brunswick)
The Department of Transportation is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with the maintenance of the provincial highway network and the management of the province's automobile fleet....
.
On 15 October 1996, the Westfield Ferry suffered a cable failure whilst the vessel was in mid-river. In high winds and waves, the drifting ferry was carried down river for about two hours, until the ferry was eventually rescued by a tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada , officially the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board is the agency of the Government of Canada responsible for maintaining...
conducted an investigation, and determined that the cable failed due to wear and corrosion of the cable. Concerns were raised about the level of training for the crew, and the lack of provision of an anchor
Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
on the ferry.
External links
- Ferries information from the New Brunswick Department of Transportation
- YouTube video of the Westfield Ferry in action