Push me pull you

[AnsleyS]

We are cruising in the St John river basin where the Province of New Brunswick runs ferries including some that run on a wire across the river. These ferries look the same front and back so when you see them on AIS display the bow of the boat may not be direction that they are heading.

 

[rcsomany]

The boat symbol on the chart plotter AIS display and the directional vector showing course and speed are generated from the data transmitted by the vessel's AIS. They do not depend on the "shape" (single or double ended) of the vessel.
(Or did I not understand the question/concern?)

 

[AnsleyS]

No question or concern but one does not often see a course and speed vector going in the opposite direction of the vessel's bow. Just fun.

 

[Fish53]

I ran ferries for the State of Maine for a few years and while to me and most people they have an obvious bow and stern but there have been occasions where I wondered if a pleasure boat operator had any idea.

 

[O C Diver]

There use to be a ferry between Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole called the "Islander". It operated for over 50 years and was an exact double ender, including two complete wheelhouses. I believe it had propulsion in both ends as it never turned around when heading between the island and the main land. Bow was the direction it was heading. Lots of fond memories memories riding it to and from the island for 40 years.

Ted

 

[Bmarler]

The ferries in Puget sound are all double Enders. Look the same at both ends, pilothouses at both ends.

 

[Shrew]

There use to be a ferry between Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole called the "Islander". It operated for over 50 years and was an exact double ender, including two complete wheelhouses. I believe it had propulsion in both ends as it never turned around when heading between the island and the main land. Bow was the direction it was heading. Lots of fond memories memories riding it to and from the island for 40 years.

View attachment 156990

Ted

They run the MV Island Home now. It looks almost identical however it's larger and newer

MV Islander - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

MV Island Home - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org