Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry

The ferry docked in Detroit

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;[5][6] the nearest land crossing allowing hazardous materials was the Blue Water Bridge.[6][7] The nearby, Gordie Howe International Bridge allow these cargos after opening in 2026.[6][8]

The MV Stormont arriving at the Detroit dock with a truck aboard.

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.[9] It made 5 trips daily;[10] a one-way crossing took 20 minutes.[11] 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Detroit-Windsor truck ferry to close in 4 to 6 months, company says". CBC News. April 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "TechBlitz - Technology and Gadget News". Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ Lessenberry, Jack (November 9, 2023). "How We Lost Our International Ferry". Lessenberry Ink. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  4. ↑ Livengood, Chad (March 31, 2023). "Livengood: Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry owner seeks a bailout to stay open". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Company pushes for hazardous materials to be allowed on Ambassador Bridge". CBC News. November 16, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "With new types of hazardous material now crossing the Ambassador Bridge, this truck driver says it's good news". CBC News. October 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ "No service at Windsor–Detroit truck ferry". CBC News. March 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry Likely to Close in 4-6 Months: Report". Ontario Trucking Association. April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Tug Stormont" (PDF). Nardo Marine. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Crossing Times". Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Hazmat". Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.

42°17′21.4″N 83°06′14.5″W / 42.289278°N 83.104028°W / 42.289278; -83.104028

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