Cable ferry

A cable ferry or chain ferry is a means of water carrying by which a ferry or other boat is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by means of cables or chains linked to both shores. Ferries of this type are sometimes also called punts, particularly in Australian English.

There are three types of cable ferry, one is the reaction ferry, which exclusively uses the power of the river to tack across the current; another is the powered cable ferry which uses an auto or diesel engine to wind itself crossways the river. The third type, now fast failing, is the hand-operated type, such as the Stratford-upon-Avon Chain Ferry in the UK and the Saugatuck Chain Ferry in Michigan, USA.
Early manifestation of cable ferries often used rope or steel chains, which were largely replace by stronger and more durable wire cable by the late 19th century.