We Rode The Buque Francisco From Montevideo!

[Ries]

I rode on it in January. Managed to resist the duty free shop, but I thoroughly enjoyed the special Pape video they played.
I am hoping he blessed it, so it wont sink.

 

[GMXam]

See, and I thought they were to keep the po po on the shoes that are left so strategically on your way to the Buquebus terminal. Wait, they gave these to me in Uruguay. I saw no dog poop on the sidewalks of MVD...dogs just don't poop here.

Uh, those bags that you put on your feet ... those are actually intended as waterproof bags for cash.

B)

 

[Matt84]

Francisco, Pride of Tasmania, 51.8 knots!

 

[Hybrid Ambassador]

When I read this article, very curious to find out this ferry configuration hence this finding: "Francisco is capable of sailing at a speed of 51.8kt with a deadweight capacity of 450t." then the rest of findings.. Aussie can build fast ferries indeed.

Francisco (formerly Lopez Mena) is the first dual fuelled high-speed Ro-Ro ferry to operate with liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the primary fuel. The high-speed ferry was built by Incat for its operator Buquebus.
"The vessel will operate on the River Plate, between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay."
Incat was awarded the construction contract for the catamaran in November 2010. The design works were carried out by Revolution Design. The vessel was constructed at Incat's Prince of Wales Bay shipyard in Hobart, Tasmania. The vessel was launched in November 2012, with sea trails commencing in March 2013. The energy-efficient vessel was named in June 2013.
The vessel carries the 1A1 HSLC R4 Car Ferry B Gas Fuelled E0 class notation. It will operate on the River Plate, between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay.

http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/francisco-high-speed-ferry/

 

[garryl]

High speed one is not that fast, felt slow when I took it, I wonder what slow boat is like, like a sea snail ?

 

[Hybrid Ambassador]

Have anyone here ever rode on a sea going Hover craft? was lucky enough to have ridden one of this no longer in operation ferry in
Kyushu island between Oita airport to the city of Oita back in 2009 before it ended operation same year. It could depart from dry land right into the sea on its air cushion then on water propelled by its two huge fans at the back of the vessel. Sad day but it was the technology of the 70's and had to end eventually.

https://www.youtube...._detailpage#t=3

https://www.youtube....etailpage#t=133

 

[Rich One]

A great report and pics... If one can pay in pesos cash at the 8, 79 rate it's a deal...! It was no the case on the otherBQB boats .

 

[Matt84]

Have anyone here ever rode on a sea going Hover craft? was lucky enough to have ridden one of this no longer in operation ferry in
Kyushu island between Oita airport to the city of Oita back in 2009 before it ended operation same year. It could depart from dry land right into the sea on its air cushion then on water propelled by its two huge fans at the back of the vessel. Sad day but it was the technology of the 70's and had to end eventually.

https://www.youtube...._detailpage#t=3

https://www.youtube....etailpage#t=133

Yes, there used to be a service across the Channel called Hoverspeed until they replaced the hovercrafts with car-carrying SeaCats much like the ones used by Buquebus.

Curious thing, in Colonia, a few years back, I found a hovercraft left to rust in a beach very close to the port. It was quiet cool to "board" it. I wonder if there ever was a hovercraft service across the river. I know there was hydrofoil.

 

[Matt84]

Yes there was http://www.histarmar.com.ar/MarinaMercanteExtr/MarinaMercanteUruguay/Mercantes/hoovermirageI.htm and it was Australian too

 

[scotttswan]

Yes, there used to be a service across the Channel called Hoverspeed until they replaced the hovercrafts with car-carrying SeaCats much like the ones used by Buquebus.

Curious thing, in Colonia, a few years back, I found a hovercraft left to rust in a beach very close to the port. It was quiet cool to "board" it. I wonder if there ever was a hovercraft service across the river. I know there was hydrofoil.

There was one years ago, my wife's family took it a couple of times, long before i arrived though.