Ferries Key Terms

Learn about key words associated with ferry operations

By Jason Wood

Ferry travel is vital to the economy of the United States as well as other economies around the world. Ferries transport goods to people living on islands or land masses without road access, and serve as commuter and tourist transportation vehicles as well. In U.S. cities with island residential and work communities, such as Seattle and New York City, ferries serve as extensions of the public transportation system. Following are a few key terms associated with ferries.

Vehicular toll ferries

A vehicular toll ferry company is allowed to charge a toll or fee for transporting vehicles or passengers. Vehicular toll ferries are operated by public transportation departments and may be franchised to private operating companies, under strict guidelines.
Try: Read more about ferry franchises from Farlex . Also view the table issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation on vehicular toll ferries in the US.

Fuel surcharge

A fuel surcharge is an additional fee that's added to the cost of a one-way or round-trip ticket to help defray the cost of using and disposing of fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency has enacted a fuel surcharge for most public transportation ferry rides.
Try: Visit Long Island Ferry or the United States Environmental Protection Agency for more information on the current fuel surcharges associated with ferry travel in the country.

Fast ferry emissions

The term fast ferry emissions refers to the potential of raised level of emissions from operating "fast ferries" throughout a body of water. While fast ferries obviously speed travel and freight delivery, there are conflicting reports on whether they provide an increased danger to the environment over their slower counterparts.
Try: Visit Captain Clark's Fast Ferry website. A long-time ferry boat captain, he has not only studied the issue of ferry emissions, but also dedicated several discussion pages to it on his website. Fast Ferry Info is another source dedicated to the discussion of emissions issues.

Ride control system

A ride control system is a series of stabilization mechanisms built into the framework of a ferry to keep the ship as stable as possible during operation. This allows for a more comfortable ride for the passengers.
Try: For more on stabilization, visit Maritime Dynamics, one of a handful of companies that retrofits and installs new ride control systems into ferries around the country.

ORCA card

An ORCA card (or One Regional Card for All) is a smartcard that can be used for fare payment on ferries, bus, train and other forms of public transit in the Puget Sound region of Washington. Other cities that incorporate ferry transportation offer similar passes.
Try: See this page from the University of Washington for details of the ORCA card that can be used in the Puget Sound region.

Dry dock

Dry dock refers to the period of time when a ferry is removed from the water and docked in such a way that repairs or winterizing can be performed. Ferries are often "dry-docked" during the off season.
Try: Visit Lummi Island Ferry for more information on the dry-docking process.