Barcarin ferry
The Rhône an obstacle to all access
Salin de Giraud, which had existed for several decades, was exclusively connected to Arles by road and the departmental railway.
The Rhône was an obstacle to any access to the east of the Bouches du Rhône.
A new method of crossing
The creation of the crossing service dates from the 1st adjudication of the fermage de la Losne (Chamone) in 1827 which will exist until 1841. It was a large boat measuring 10m by 3m.
In 1855 a ferry based at the foot of the Saint Louis Tower in de Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône was awarded and connecting this village to the Domaine de la Palissade hunting territory.
The 1st ferry entered service in 1933, replacing the barque “Bette”.
The construction of a chain ferry
The construction of a chain ferry approximately fifteen meters long was adopted.
In Salin de Giraud, on October 8, 1933, in the presence of notables and the local population, the first ferry was inaugurated as well as a large ocher building, still existing, where the boatmen lived.
The arrival of modernity
In 1944, during the retreat, German troops sank Barcarin 1. It was not until 1956 that the public crossing service resumed. With the arrival of Barcarin 2 then Barcarin 3 in 1967, a modern type of ship was selected: amphidrome, self-propelled and very maneuverable thanks to the two Voith thrusters (1 at each end), hull with sufficient hollowness for good hold in the waves created when the sea comes in or the Mistral is violent.
In 1987, Barcarin 4 replaced B2 and in 2011 Barcarin 5 started its service on new infrastructures.
