Industrial History: Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry across the Detroit River

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry across the Detroit River

See Ferries for the historical railroad ferries in Detroit.

TruckFerry-home
The Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry crosses the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan on a scheduled basis in 20 minutes. All customs clearances are completed on-site reducing customs delays. The truck ferry service between Windsor and Detroit saves you time, fuel, maintenance and drive hours. A direct ferry crossing of the Detroit River avoids the congestion delays at other border crossings thereby reducing driver fatigue and frustration.

Michael Chase posted four photos with the comment:

Gordie and the Ferry Tale.
Ferries between Detroit and Windsor date back as far as the 1800's.
Founded in 1877, the Detroit Windsor Ferry Company which operated several steamers, ran between Windsor and Detroit.
They also serviced other destinations including Belle Isle, Boblo Island and other Great Lakes destinations.
Their Windsor departure point back in the day was at the foot of Ouellette and Riverside Dr, which was once known as Ferry Hill.
While ferry passenger service ended in 1938, others such as the railroad ferry and the Detroit Windsor truck ferry continued to work between the two cities.
While the railcar ferry which started in 1904 also eventually closed, the Detroit Windsor truck ferry (currently serviced by the Stormont tug) continued to operate to this day transporting commercial vehicles between Windsor and Detroit.
Fees to use the ferry range from as low as $30 (USD) for the tractor only (no trailer) to as high as $1650.00 (USD) for longer and wider vehicles with applicable surcharges for oversize units.
The ferry operates daily starting at 7:00 a.m. with an approximate crossing time of 20 minutes.
With the impending completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge slated to open in 2025, the future of the ferry is uncertain as this bridge will allow for the transportation of dangerous goods where the current Ambassador Bridge would not.
The ferry services which primarily transports hazardous goods has also been invaluable during border disruptions or heavy traffic backups.
Nestled between several multiple industrial properties on the Canadian side, it also has it's own Canada Customs booth.
Pictured here during the Christmas Holidays is the Stormont tug which is part of the McKeil marine fleet. The M/V Stormont is a 8.5 tonne bollard-pull - harbour towing tug owned and operated by McKeil Marine.
The Stormont tug & barge can also be seen on the left side of the photo in the shadow of the Gordie Howe bridge under construction as well as in the background on the US side behind the Leonard M and Huron Spirit barge photo.
Aerial Photography and Videography by Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.
Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural - Marine.
Licensed by Transport Canada.

Michael Chase also posted

TruckFerry-rules

TruckFerry-special
Neither the Ambassador Bridge nor the tunnel can handle hazmat or oversized loads.

The east (Windsor) side:

Satellite

The west (Detroit) side doesn't look near as nice. Note the construction of the tower for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Global Earth, May 2022

Second of 3 photos posted by Michael

The flotilla.

One last shot of the S.S. S.T. Crapo docked as if it were just another day at work while on her last voyage to the scrapyard.

If it weren't for the towline still rigged to the tug Molly M I, you would think that this was just a shot of her at Morterm along with the MV Reestborg at ADM Industries and the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin docked at Canadian Salt.

The second photo was the Stormont Tug / Truck Ferry attempting to photobomb the photo and get one last photo of her with the S.T. Crapo. (Notice how the morning sunlight is only shining on the S.T. Crapo)

Aerial Photography and Videography by Windsor Aerial Drone Photography

Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural - Marine

Windsor Aerial Drone Photography

Michael Chase posted

This week, the owner of the Detroit Windsor Truck ferry has announced that he is pulling the plug on the service.

Following 33 years in business, he had originally intended to close down the service in 2025 once the newly constructed Gordie Howe International Bridge opened, but he indicated that it is not longer financially viable to continue the service.

This was the only legally approved method for transporting dangerous or flammable goods across the Detroit River in the area.

While the Gordie Howe Bridge will allow for the transport of dangerous goods, in the meantime, trucks will be forced to travel to Sarnia - Port Huron to make the international crossing.

The ferry is currently serviced by McKeil Marine's Stormont tug.

Aerial Photography and Videography by Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.

Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural - Marine.

Jul 2023: Note the truck ferry heading towards the Detroit dock in the last two photos.

Andrew Dean Detroit posted three photos with the comment: "Saginaw and Great Republic unloading at the Gordie Howe bridge site. Mesabi Miner glides by while the Stormont prepares to dock."

Andrew Russel shared