A special type are electrically powered overhead-cable ferries like [[Straussee Ferry]], which have an onboard propulsion unit and can float free, but are connected to the overhead wire for the power supply, using an electrical cable that slides along the cable as the ferry moves.
A very rare type are cable-ferries that are not propelled by themselves but rather are pulled from landsideland side. An example of such a cable ferry was the Kungälv -– Fästningsholmen ferry in Sweden. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Schweden Fährstellen |url=http://www.fjordfaehren.de/ssf/s_faehrstellen.htm |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=www.fjordfaehren.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schweden und Finnland |url=http://www.fjordfaehren.de/ssf/foto/webbilder/kungaelv.htm |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=www.fjordfaehren.de}}</ref> Today, the Jonen ferry in the Netherlands is pulled by a winch on the banks. These cable ferries can be operated electrically without having to provide electricity by rechargeable batteries or an overhead wire. Saving the weight of the engine onboard, these ferries can also be operated using less energy.
Two or more ferries can be provided in order to increase availability and capacity and as a backup during maintenance, as with the [[Torpoint Ferry]].
