Excuse Me for Barging In: Establishment of a Hazardous Materials Ferry Between Detroit and Windsor

The barriers to entry encountered in establishing the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry Service are discussed. The ferry service was needed to transport hazardous-materials-laden vehicles, which were not allowed access to the bridge and tunnel linking the cities of Detroit and Windsor. Without the ferry, these vehicles were detoured 265 km to a northern bridge crossing for deliveries between the two border cities. The crossing between Detroit and Windsor is the most important North American border crossing in terms of volume of trucks and trade value of goods ($44.5 billion, U.S. dollars, in 1990). The efficient movement of all classes of freight is essential to the competitiveness of automobile and automobile-related industries in the region. A major challenge in establishing the ferry service was overcoming safety concerns. The start-up involved multiple jurisdictions in two countries. Firsthand experience in planning, establishing, and operating this business and relevant government regulations and bylaws, correspondence, and newspaper articles are cited. The successful establishment of this ferry service and its role in improving transport safety, enhancing the transportation infrastructure, and protecting the environment are demonstrated.