Ferries: ferrying on two wheels!

A motorcycle journey to lands near or far rarely takes place exclusively on asphalt or dirt tracks. 

It is quite common that along the way, one or more ferry crossings are needed. Ferry crossings can save precious time or simply provide an easy option when it is impossible to bypass a body of water by travelling overland. When drawing up the itinerary for a motorcycle journey, the internet can help by providing both information and costs relating to ferry companies around the world.
About 70% of our Planet consists of water.
Fortunately, the oceans, lakes and rivers are a dense network of river, lake and sea communication routes which move both goods and people locally and at distances of thousands of kilometres, connecting different regions, countries and even continents.
In a similar context, it is clear how difficult it is to avoid boarding a ferry with a fully loaded motorcycle and luggage, especially if the proposed itinerary includes stops on one or more islands.
So we have decided to dedicate an entire article to Ferry Companies. Just as it is in other sectors of transport, the lion’s share belongs to the completely specialized portals that are unequalled in terms of searching, providing price comparison information and ease of booking. For those who like to have “direct” contact, official websites for the various ferry companies can still be found on the net.
Here is what we found.

Ferrylines.Com

It describes itself as “The most complete ferry portal in the world”. If this were the case then no other internet search would be needed. The portal is available in eight languages, including Italian and the homepage offers the search options of; MAP, SEARCH, OPERATORS, DESTINATION, OFFERS, SERVICE and COMPANY.
In order to view the proposals of the different companies operating the desired route, simply complete the “form” with the required day and port of departure, indicating whether a return ticket is needed, the number of passengers and their ages and the make of the motorcycle. The search is automatically extended to different ports that relate to the country or countries of departure and arrival point(s).
The real advantage of this portal is the support offered by the world map which can be enlarged as desired.
To test the functionality of the “booking” section, we simulated the purchase of a ticket. In particular, a “one way” route from Frederikshavn in Denmark to Gothenburg in Sweden. The search showed more companies and fares and highlighted the Swedish Stena Line as having the best price: ranging from €24.50 to €28.50 for two people and a motorcycle. We then simulated the reservation using the company’s own website, without using the portal, which resulted in greater flexibility but without any differences in terms of costs.
Not content, we replicated the test with a real “classic” route, the return trip from Spain to Morocco (Algeciras -Tangiers) with travel dates of 30/8-15/9. The portal highlighted the Trasmediterranea company as being the most convenient: with the same example as above, two people plus a motorcycle resulting in a fare of €104 euros. The journey is an hour in length and includes the use of two armchairs.
When booking directly with the official Moroccan Intershipping website, the return-trip rates indicated for the same travel period, which appeared on the portal but with higher prices, was equal to 776 Dirham, the equivalent to about €70 euros. Currently, the website is only available in French.
Further cross comparisons could reveal some surprises.

Aferry

On its homepage, as a response to the competition, the company describes itself as “the world’s largest ferry booking site”. Aferry is in partnership with about 200 companies and the website is available in a number of different languages which modifies ad hoc information. For example, when selecting French, the most popular destinations are highlighted eg Corsica, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco while selecting Italian highlights the destinations of Sardinia, Corsica, Croatia and Greece.
In general, the menu is similar to that of the previous portal. Whilst a map is not available, the site does feature a list of all the ports in alphabetical order by country, from which ferries can be booked. In this case, the system also compares different companies highlighting the best prices.

Direct ferries

This is the third portal taken into consideration. It does not differ a great deal from those previously mentioned, but it aims to promote its search engine by allowing users to choose between 2,880 routes and 692 ports around the world. It can be used in a number of different languages. The homepage also provides a search facility relating to the exclusive transportation of goods, an option not offered by the two previous portals.

From web portals to official company websites

An extensive list ranging from fleets capable of reaching nations and continents to companies operating on specific routes, such as the Greek island specialists, greeka.com and go-ferry.com … to micro-companies that ferry vehicles and people from one bank of a lake to the other.
The Wikipedia website is very handy in finding details of the exact ferry required.
On a single page, this extraordinary “Free Encyclopedia” provides hundreds of links that lead to as many companies. This web space also includes sections limited to the exclusive transportation of people, as it was not created for the exclusive use of “motorised” individuals. Below, the contents are shown in the form of a list. Once on the web, the Wikipedia page is easily reached by simply typing “list of ferry operators” into the search engine.
AFRICA
• Algerie Ferries / ENTMV (Algeria – Spain, France)
• CNAN – (Algeria – Spain, France)
• Comarit (Morocco – Spain, France, Italy)
• Comanav (Morocco – Spain, France)
• Cotunav (Tunisia – France)
• El Salam Maritime – (Egypt – Saudi Arabia)
ASIA
• Philippine Ferries Archipelago Corporation (Visayas, Mindanao, Luzon, Batangas, Philippines)
• Jomalia Shipping Corporation (Philippines, Camotes island, Cebu)
• Montenegro Shipping Lines (Visayas, Mindanao, Luzon, Philippines)
• Roble Shipping INC (Visayas, Leyte)
• Weesam Express (Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines)
• Cokaliong Shipping Lines (Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines)
• Trans-Asia Shipping Lines (Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines)
• Lite Shipping (Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines)
• George and Peter Shipping Lines (Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines)
• Aleson Shipping Lines (Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines, Sandakan)
• 2GO Travel (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Philippines)
• The SupperCat Fast Ferry Corporation (Visayas, Mindanao, Luzon, Philippines)
• Moreta Shiiping Lines (Philippines)
• Ocean Fast Ferry Corporation Ocean Jet (PHILIPPINES)
• StarLite Ferries Inc (Philippines, Luzon, Visayas)
• BatamFast Ferry (Singapore, Batam, Bintan)
• Berlian Ferries (Singapore, Batam)
• Bintan Resort Ferries (Singapore, Bintan)
• Cebu Ferries (Cebu, Philippines)
• Cruise Ferries
• Horizon Fast Ferry (Singapore, Batam, Port of Merak)
• IndoFalcon Shipping (Singapore, Batam, Port of Merak)
• PT. ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) Jakarta, Indonesia
• Majestic Fast Ferry (Singapore, Batam, Tanjung Pinang)
• Mozaic Ferry (Singapore, Bintan)
• Negros Navigation (Manila, Philippines)
• Pacific Ferry (Singapore, Batam, Port of Merak)
• Penang Ferry Service (George Town, Penang, Malaysia)
• PT Dharma Lautan Utama (Surabaya, Indonesia)
• Sindo Ferry (Singapore, Batam, Bintan)
• SSTH Ocean Arrow
• Star Ferry (Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong)
• SuperFerry (Manila, Philippines)
Also view the list of Japanese ferry companies at this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ferry_operators_in_Japan
EUROPE
• Acciona Trasmediterránea (mainland Spain to Balearics, Canary Islands, Algeria and Morocco)
• Adria Ferries (it) (Italy to Albania)
• Aegean Speed Lines (Greece)
• AG Ems (nl) (Wadden Sea, both between the Netherlands and Germany)
• Ålandstrafiken (mainland Finland to Åland Islands)
• Algérie Ferries (Algeria to Spain and France)
• Alstrafikken (from) (Denmark domestic)
• Amey plc (Windermere Ferry)
• Ånedinlinjen (Sweden to Åland Islands)
• ANEK Lines (Italy to Greece)
• Argyll and Bute Council (Firth of Lorne and Loch Linnhe)
• Atlanticoline (Azores Islands in Portugal) [1]
• Baleària (mainland Spain to Balearics and Morocco)
• Blue Line International (Italy to Croatia)
• Blue Star Ferries (Greece, Aegean Islands)
• Bluvia (Italy)
• Bodrum Express Lines (Greece to Turkey)
• BornholmerFærgen (to Denmark, Germany and Sweden)
• Bournemouth – Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company (Sandbanks Ferry, Poole Harbor)
• Bristol Ferry Boats (in Bristol Harbor)
• Brittany Ferries (UK to France, Spain and Ireland)
• Brownsea Island Ferries Ltd (Poole Harbor)
• Caledonian MacBrayne (Scotland)
• Caremar (Italy)
• Celtic Link Ferries (Ireland – France; Portsmouth-Cherbourg)
• Color Line (Norway to Denmark, Germany and Sweden)
• Compagnie Corsaire (St. Malo – Jersey, Channel Islands)
• Condor Ferries (Channel Islands, UK)
• Corsica Ferries-Sardinia Ferries (Italy and France to Corsica and Sardinia)
• Cromarty Ferry Company (Scotland)
• Destination Gotland (Swedish mainland to Gotland)
• DFDS Seaways (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Channel) [2]
• Dodekanisos Seaways (Greece)
• Eckerö Line (Baltic Sea)
• Eckerölinjen (Sweden to Aland Islands)
• Eimskip Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
• EneRmaR (Italy)
• Erturk Lines (Turkey to Greece)
• Exe to Sea Cruises (Exmouth to Starcross Ferry)
• Finnlines (Northern Europe)
• Fjärdvägen (Finland domestic)
• Fjord Line (Denmark to Norway)
• Fjord1 Nordvestlandske (Norway)
• Fosen Trafikklag (Norway)
• Francis Spencer (Hammerton’s Ferry across the River Thames)
• Fred. Olsen Express (Balearics)
• FRS Iberia S.L. (Spain to Morocco)
• Golden Star Ferries (Greece domestic)
• Gosport Ferry Company Ltd (Gosport to Portsmouth)
• Grandi Navi Veloci (Italy – Med)
• Grimaldi Lines (Italy – Med)
• Hellenic Seaways (Greece)
• HH-Ferries (Sweden – Denmark)
• Highland Regional Council (Corran Ferry – Loch Linnhe)
• Hovertravel (Hovercraft from UK mainland to Isle of Wight)
• Hurtigruten (Norway domestic)
• İdo (Turkey domestic)
• Inter Shipping (Spain to Morocco)
• Ionian Ferries (Greece)
• Irish Ferries (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea)
• Iscomar (Balearics)
• Isle of Man Steam Packet (Isle of Man, Irish Sea)
• Isle of Skye Ferry Community Interest Company (Scotland)
• Isle of Wight Council (Cowes Floating Bridge)
• Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (English mainland to Isles of Scilly)
• Jadrolinija (Croatia domestic, Croatia to Italy)
• King Harry Steam Ferry Company Ltd (River Fal)
• La Meridionale (France – Corsica & Sardinia)
• Lake Koman Ferry (Northern Albania)
• Lane Sea Lines (Greece domestic)
• Langelandsfaergen (Domestic Denmark)
• Laziomar (Italy)
• LD Lines (England / France – Spain)
• Linda Line (Estonia – Finland)
• Manche Iles Express (France – Channel Islands) [3]
• Maregiglio (Italy)
• Meander Travel (Turkey to Greece, Kusadasi to Samos, Patmos / Greece) [4]
• Medmar (Italy)
• Merseytravel (Mersey Ferry)
• Minoan Lines (Italy to Greece)
• Moby Lines (Italy and the Mediterranean)
• Montenegro Lines (Italy to Montenegro)
• Namsos Trafikkselskap (Norway)
• Naviera Armas Mainland Spain including Huelva to Canary Islands, Spain to Morocco
• In the Lines (Greece)
• NorthLink Ferries (Orkney and Shetland, Scotland)
• NORLED
• Number Seven Boat Trips (in Bristol Harbor)
• Orkney Ferries (Orkney, Scotland)
• PB Management (Bulgaria to (Georgia) South Asia way and (Russia) North Asia way
• P & O Ferries (United Kingdom to France, Netherlands, Belgium and Spain)
• P & O Irish Sea (Irish sea)
• Pentland Ferries (Orkney, Scotland)
• Polferries (the Baltic Sea)
• Rapska Plovidba (Island of Rab to mainland, Croatia)
• Red Funnel (Isle of Wight to mainland England.)
• Rederij Doeksen (Netherlands domestic)
• Royal Borough of Greenwich (Woolwich Ferry across the River Thames)
• Saaremaa Shipping Company (Estonia to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa)
• Samsofaergen (Domestic Denmark)
• Saremar (Italy)
• Scandlines (Baltic Sea)
• Shetland Islands Council (internal Shetland islands)
• Silja Line (Finland to Sweden)
• Siremar (Italy)
• Smyril Line (North Sea and the North Atlantic)
• SNAV (Italy and the Mediterranean)
• SNCM (France and the Mediterranean)
• Split Tours (Croatia)
• Stena Line (North Sea, Irish Sea, Baltic Sea)
• Stena Sealine (Black Sea)
• Strandfaraskip Landsins (within the Faroe Islands)
• Superfast Ferries (Athens; Adriatic)
• Tallink (the Baltic Sea)
• Teign Ferry Ltd (Teignmouth to Shaldon, across the Teign Estuary)
• TESO (Den Helder to Texel, Netherlands)
• Thames Clippers (services on the River Thames including Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry)
• Tirrenia di Navigazione (Italy)
• Transmaçor (Azores Islands in Portugal)
• Transtejo & Soflusa (Lisbon in Portugal)
• Toremar (Italy)
• Torghatten Trafikkselskap (Norway)
• TS Laevad (Estonia)
• TT-Line (Germany and Poland to Sweden)
• UKR Ferry (Black Sea)
• Unity Line (Świnoujście to Ystad and Świnoujście to Trelleborg)
• Ustica Line (Italy Islands)
• Venezia Lines (Italy to Croatia and Slovenia)
• Ventouris Ferries (Italy to Greece)
• Ventrafiken (Sweden domestic, Island of Ven to mainland)
• Viking Line (the Baltic Sea)
• Virtu Ferries (Sicily to Malta)
• Wagenborg (Wadden Sea ferries in the Netherlands)
• Wasa Line (Sweden to Finland)
• Waxholmsbolaget (Stockholm, Sweden)
• Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd (Firth of Clyde)
• Wightlink (Isle of Wight to mainland England) [5]
• Wyker Dampfschiffahrts-Reederei (WDR) (Northfrisian Islands)
• Yesil Marmaris Lines (Turkey to Greece – Ferries Between Marmaris-Rhodes, Bodrum-Rhodes and Bodrum-Kos) [6]
• Zegluga Gdańska (Gdańsk Bay)
• Zürichsee-Fähre Horgen-Meilen (Lake Zurich, Switzerland)
NORTH AMERICA
• Alaska Marine Highway System (ports across Alaska as well as Prince Rupert, British Columbia and Bellingham, Washington)
• Anderson Ferry (Cincinnati, Ohio) (goes across the Ohio River to allow Ohio residents quick access to Kentucky and vice versa)
• Arctic Umiaq Line (coastal ferry along the western coast of Greenland)
• Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department
• Augusta Ferry (service between Higginsport, Ohio and Augusta, Kentucky)
• Baja Ferries (Baja California Sur – Sinaloa, Mexico)
• Bay Ferries (Eastern Canada and US, Caribbean Sea)
• BC Ferries (British Columbia, Canada)
• BillyBey Ferry Company (Weehawken, New Jersey)
• Black Ball Transport (Olympic Peninsula to Vancouver Island)
• Block Island Ferry (Point Judith to Block Island, Rhode Island)
• Block Island Express (New London, Connecticut to Block Island, Rhode Island)
• Blue and Gold Fleet (connects San Francisco with Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Oakland, Alameda, and Vallejo) (San Francisco, California)
• Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry (Bridgeport, Connecticut to Port Jefferson, New York)
• Clackamas County, Oregon (Canby Ferry)
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry (service between Cape May County, New Jersey and Lewes, Delaware across the Delaware Bay)
• Bay Lines Helmet (service between Portland, Maine and the Islands of Casco Bay)
• Cave-In-Rock Ferry (service between Cave-In-Rock, Illinois and rural Crittenden County, Kentucky)
• Chester-Hadlyme ferry (seasonal ferry operating on the Connecticut River)
• Cross Sound Ferry (New London, Connecticut to Orient, New York)] better source needed]
• Delaware State Parks runs ferry services to Pea Patch Island State Park from Lewes, Delaware and Fort Mott (New Jersey)
• Diskoline (domestic passenger-only ferries in the Disko Bay area in Greenland;
• Santa Rosalia Ferry (Baja California Sur – Sonora, Mexico)
• Fire Island Ferries (service between Bay Shore, New York and Fire Island, New York across the Great South Bay)
• Fishers Island Ferry District (Fishers Island, New York to New London, Connecticut)
• Fraser River Marine Transportation Ltd. (British Columbia, Canada)
• Golden Gate Transit (ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area)
• Governors Island Alliance (New York City)
• Harris County, Texas (operated by ferry across Buffalo Bayou near the San Jacinto Monument)
• Hatton Ferry (James River, Virginia)
• HMS Ferries (connects the north and south ends of the Florida State Road A1A, Jacksonville)
• Hornblower Cruises (San Francisco)
• Inter-Island Ferry Authority (five Southeast Alaskan communities)
• Jacksonville Water Taxi (Jacksonville, Florida)
• Jet Express (U.S. Lake Erie Islands) [13]
• Kelleys Island Ferry (Lake Erie to Kelleys Island, Ohio)
• Lake Champlain Transportation Company (on Lake Champlain in the United States)
• Lake Express (on Lake Michigan)
• Lake Michigan Carferry (operates the SS Badger)
• Liberty Water Taxi (Jersey City, New Jersey)
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD)
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Crescent City Connection Division
• Marine Atlantic (Atlantic Canada)
• MBTA boat (Boston)
• Metro Transit (public transit routes in Halifax, Nova Scotia)
• Miller Boat Line (U.S. Lake Erie Islands)
• Millersburg Ferry (Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, between Millerburg and Liverpool, Pennsylvania)
• New York Water Taxi (New York City)
• North Carolina Ferry System (operate eight ferry routes)
• Northumberland Ferries (eastern Canada)
• NY Waterway (Weehawken, New Jersey)
• Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited, Tobermory, Ontario
• Oxford-Bellevue Ferry (Talbot County, Maryland) [17]
• Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
• Plymouth-to-Provincetown Express Ferry (Plymouth, Massachusetts and Provincetown, Massachusetts)
• RiverLink Ferry (between Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey across the Delaware River)
• Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferry (seasonal ferry on the Connecticut River)
• Sistersville Ferry (Ohio River crosses between Sistersville, West Virginia and the unincorporated community of Fly, Ohio)
• Société des traversiers du Québec (Quebec, Canada)
• Staten Island Ferry (New York City)
• The Steamship Authority (Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts)
• Texas Department of Transportation (operates two ferries, one at Galveston, Texas and the other at Port Aransas, Texas)
• Thimble Islands Ferry Service (Branford, Connecticut to Thimble Islands, Branford, Connecticut)
• Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division (operate three Toronto Island ferries)
• Toronto Port Authority (operate one island airport ferry)
• Washington State Ferries (northwest US)
• Valley View Ferry (connects Jessamine County and Lexington, Kentucky to Madison County via SR 169 at the Kentucky River).
• VDOT provides free car ferry services in Southern Virginia. Woodland Ferry, cable ferry
western Sussex County, Delaware, spanning the Nanticoke River at Woodland, Delaware, west of the city of Seaford
In addition, a private operator runs a ferry across the Current River in Missouri, at the Akers Ferry crossing the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
OCEANIA
• 360 Discovery Cruises (Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel ferry service)
• Australian National Lines (formerly Tasmania to mainland Australia)
• Bass & Flinders Cruises
• Bluebridge (connects North Island and South Island in New Zealand)
• Captain Cook Cruises, Australia
• Captain Cook Cruises Western Australia
• Central Coast Ferries
• Church Point Ferry
• Cronulla & National Park Ferry Cruises
• Fullers Ferries (Waitemata Harbor and inner Hauraki Gulf ferry service)
• Gold Coast Ferries
• Harbor City Ferries
• Hawkesbury River Ferries
• Interisland Line (connects North Island and South Island in New Zealand)
• Kangaroo Island SeaLink (mainland South Australia to Kangaroo Island)
• Kiwi Coast Cruises (Tauranga to Mt Maunganui ferry service)
• Matakana Ferry 2000 (Omokoroa to Matakana Island ferry service)
• Matilda Cruises
• Newcastle Transport
• New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (various inland crossings)
• Peninsula Searoad Transport (crossing Port Phillip)
• Reubens Water Taxi (Kawau Island and outer Hauraki Gulf ferry service)
• SeaLink Travel Group (Great Barrier Island ferry service)
• Searoad Ferries (Ro / Ro ferries across Bass Strait)
• Stewart Island Experience (Bluff to Stewart Island ferry service)
• Sydney Fast Ferries
• Sydney Ferries (Sydney, Australia)
• Toll Domestic Forwarding
• Transdev Brisbane Ferries
• TT-Line (ferries connecting Tasmania to Victoria)
SOUTH AMERICA
• Conferry (connects Isla Margarita to mainland Venezuela)
• Ferries that connect Colonia, Uruguay and Montevideo, Uruguay to Buenos Aires, Argentina: Buquebus, La Cacciola, Colonia Express, Ferrylineas.
Chile: Naviera Austral, Navimag, Transbordadora Austral Broom S.A., Transbordadores Cruz del Sur,Transmarchilay
Brazil: Barcas S.A.