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OTTAWA – Two businessmen in the Ottawa area have a plan to revive a ferry service across the Ottawa River between Rockland, Ont., and Thurso, Que.
The vessel would be a cable ferry, pulled from shore to shore, using an underwater cable attached on either side.
Daniel Morin, who bought a cable ferry with his partner last fall, said that type of craft needs fewer staff and much less fuel than diesel-operated ferries. He estimates a cable ferry would use one-seventh the amount of fuel a diesel boat would need.
“It’s more efficient, so your overhead is less and you are able to give a better service. You don’t need a specialized pilot because you’re following a cable,” said Morin.
So far, the municipalities of Thurso and Clarence-Rockland have agreed to the proposal.
Sailor Michael McGoldrick, who has navigated the Ottawa River for 20 years, said the number of power boats in that area might present a problem.
“If you put a cable ferry there, you are going to be interfering with boats and traffic that goes through. If the cable is perfectly taut, then of course boats can’t go in front of that ferry.”
Engineers are still working out details of how the service would operate.
Morin still needs appr