Danube-Networkers

The Saviour of the Danube-Ferryboat

Text: Ivan Kajgana, Wolfgang Sator

Interview with Mr. Prinz, the man, who saved the existence of the ferry-boat

A nice walk or a bicycle trip to the north of Vienna along the Danube River takes you to the cities of Klosterneuburg and Korneuburg. There you see a ferry-boat which crosses the Danube River all day long. The ferry-boat has a maximum capacity of loading 160 persons or four motor-cars.

In 1990 this type of transport was stopped and the boat should be shredded. Then Mr. Prinz bought the boat. It was repaired by some workers of the cities. Now the ferry-boat could start again. Mr. Prinz was the ferryman between 1992 and 2008. After a short time he was honoured as the "Saviour" of the ferry-boat. When he resigned he was 79 years old.

In our interview he told us many facts about the ferry-boat: "At the beginning this boat was a 'Flying bridge'. The cable transporting the boat was in the water of the river. Therefore the transportation was delayed. Later on - in the thirties of the past century - two big masts were built up on both banks of the river. A high-fixed steel-cable lead the boat between the masts as a trail-ferry."

"Both cities, Klosterneuburg and Korneuburg", said Mr. Prinz smiling, "wanted the better economical position." He continued: "At any time the ferry-boat was important for shipping tourists and goods."

At the end of the interview Mr. Prinz told me: "Now I'm 80 years old. I had to stop working as a ferryman. But I'm still proud of having saved this jewel some years ago. And nowadays I'm glad for having  found a  young qualified successor."

At last we thanked him very much for making this interview with us.