Ongiara (ferry)
The Ongiara is a 57-year-old Toronto Island ferry operated by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division of the City of Toronto government. The ferry serves the Toronto Islands from a dock at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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History
The only car ferry operated by the City of Toronto (all others are owned by Ports Toronto) was built in Owen Sound, Ontario by Russel Brothers[1] and commissioned in 1963 and carries both passengers (220) and vehicles (10 cars or 8 trucks). The latter is for City-owned vehicles that need to access the island.[2]
Her namesake is believed to be from the Mohawk word Ongiara, for point of land cut into two.[2] Ongiara was also the name of a former street on the Toronto Islands.
Operations
The car ferry operates from the mainland ferry terminal over to Hanlan's Point and Wards Island terminals. The ferry can operate year-round as long as the inner harbour is ice free. The only time the ferry did not carry passengers was during the 2010 G20 summit.[3]
Specifications
Details from Transport Canada[4]
| Gross Tonnage: | 180 tonnes (400,000 lb) |
| Net Tonnage: | 122.05 tonnes (269,100 lb) |
| Length: | 20.42 metres (67.0 ft) |
| Breadth: | 11.0 metres (36.1 ft) |
| Depth: | 2.65 metres (8.7 ft) |
| Draught: | |
| Self-Propelled Power: | 390 hp twin diesel |
| Speed: | 10 knots (12 mph) |
References
- Briggs, Dr. Steve. "RUSSEL BROTHERS Ltd. Steelcraft winch boat and warping tug builders from Owen Sound, Ontario". www.russelbrothers.ca.
- Filey, Mike (31 March 2014). Trillium and Toronto Island: The Centennial Edition. Dundurn. ISBN 9781770705500 – via Google Books.
- https://info.publicintelligence.net/G20_ISU_background.pdf
- Security, Transport Canada - Marine Safety and. "Marine Medical Examiners". wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.