Darchau Ferry

Career
Name:	Tanja (Darchau ferry)
Route:	Neu Darchau–Darchau (Elbe, Lower Saxony)
Builder:	Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek H. J. Koopman, Dordrecht, Netherlands
Launched:	1959
In service:	1993
Status:	in active service, as of 2010[update]
General characteristics
Type:	Double-ended ferry
Length:	45.9 m (150 ft 7 in)
Beam:	12.1 m (39 ft 8 in)
Draught:	0.7 m (2 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Scania AB diesel engines 2 × Voith Schneider Propellers
Speed:	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity:	140 tonnes / 200 passengers

The Darchau Ferry is a ferry across the Elbe river in Germany. It crosses between Darchau and Neu Darchau, both in the state of Lower Saxony, and is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) south-east of the city of Hamburg.^[1]. The ferry boat currently in operation is the Tanja (ex Waal, ex Wijkse Veer).

General information

The ferry itself was built in 1959 at the Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek H. J. Koopman in Dordrecht, Netherlands, and placed in service on 26 March 1960 as the Waal. From 1960 to 1974 it was operated by the Dutch municipality of Tiel. In 1974 the boat was taken over by the municipality of Wijk bij Duurstede. It ran there under the name of Wijkse Veer until 1993. Since 1993 the boat has been run as the Tanja Ferry by the municipality of Neu Darchau^[2]. It replaced a smaller double-ended ferry of the same name that became the reserve ferry in Neu Darchau in 1997.^[3]

Technical information

Tanja is an open, double-ended ferry with ramps at both ends. The wheelhouse is located on a bridge in the centre above the vehicle deck. The ferry has a total length of 45.9 metres, a width of 12.1 metres and a draught of 0.7 metres. Its usable transport length is 30.9 metres, its carrying capacity 140 tonnes. Up to 21 vehicles or 200 passengers may be carried. The highest weight for a single vehicle is 40 tonnes.^[4] The ferry has a top speed of 14 km/h. It is powered by two Scania diesel engines that each drive a Voith Schneider Propeller.

References

1. ^ "Darchau Ferry on Google Maps". Google. http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=53.233333,10.883333&ie=UTF8&ll=53.235132,10.8917&spn=0.003346,0.006909&z=17. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 
2. ^ Eigenbetrieb Fähre Tanja. In: Webseite der Gemeinde Neu Darchau. Accessed on 9 May 2010.
3. ^ Wilhelm Langes: Baden-Pfalz. In: Binnenfähren in Deutschland, den Niederlanden und Westeuropa. Dortmund 2003. Accessed on 1 August 2009.
4. ^ Elbfähre Darchau–Neu Darchau. In: Verkehrsinfo Region Hamburg. Schiff & Hafen. Elbfähren. Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt Hamburg - Amt für Verkehr und Straßenwesen, Hamburg Juni 2003. Accessed on 9 May 2009.

• Langes, Wilhelm (2003). Tanja. In: Wagenfähren in Deutschland, den Niederlanden und Westeuropa. Dortmund 2003. Accessed on 9 May 2010.

Coordinates: 53°14′6.33″N 10°53′31.25″E / 53.2350917°N 10.8920139°E / 53.2350917; 10.8920139