Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry
American ferry service (1990–2023)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry was a ferry service that transported trucks between Detroit, Michigan, United States and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, via the Detroit River. It operated from 1990 to 2023.[1]
The service was split between two companies, Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry, Incorporated of Detroit and CMT Canadian Maritime Transport, Limited of Windsor.[2]
Overview
The ferry began operations on Earth Day, April 22, 1990,[3][4] and shut down on September 30, 2023.[5] It was the primary crossing for trucks carrying hazardous materials in the Detroit-Windsor area, as those goods were banned from the Ambassador Bridge from 1994 to 2024;[6][7] the nearest land crossing allowing hazardous materials was the Blue Water Bridge.[7][8] The nearby, under-construction Gordie Howe International Bridge will allow these cargoes upon its opening in 2026.[7][9]
The service was run with a flat open non-self-propelled barge with a pilot house located on one end, towed by the MV Stormont, a diesel harbor tow tug.[10] It made 5 trips daily;[11] a one-way crossing took 20 minutes.[12] The Detroit port was located in Delray, Southwest Detroit, near Zug Island at the mouth of the River Rouge; the Windsor port was located near the Windsor Salt Mine, accessed from the Ojibway Parkway. Customs clearance was required before embarking onto the ferry at either port.