| Operators | Actv |
|---|---|
| Subclasses | Ten |
| Built range | Series 1 to 10 |
| Displacement | 22 tons |
|---|---|
| Length | 21.1 metres (69 ft) |
| Beam | 3.75 metres (12.3 ft) |
| Draught | 0.95 metres (3.1 ft) |
| Power | 180 h.p. |
| Speed | 11 knots |
| Capacity | 154 passengers |
| Crew | 2 |
The motoscafo is a Venetian public waterbus (more slender and faster than a normal vaporetto) which is dedicated to scheduled services along the circumnavigation routes of the historic centre of Venice.[1]
History
The first motoscafi were introduced in 1933 when with the opening of the Rio Nuovo it became necessary to introduce boats smaller than vaporettos, having the capacity to operate along narrower canals and under low bridges. Eight vessels were ordered from C.N.O.M., Venice.
The first vessels had open front and no cabin protection for the crew. Later models provided an enclosed front for passengers and a driving cabin for the crew. Despite these modest improvements the general design and capacity has remained fairly consistent.
The motoscafi are operated by Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano (ACTV), the Venetian public transport system.[2] Typically they are deployed on routes 3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, and 6.
Fleet
| Series | Shipyard | No of vessels | Numbers | Date introduced | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C.N.O.M., Venice | 8 | 101 to 108 | 1933 | |
| 2 | 5 | 109 to 114 | 1937 | Initially containing a Voith-Schneider drive and rear-end, later modified with propeller-rudder system | |
| 3 | C.N.O.M., Venice | 115 to 147 | 1942 | Designed before 1940 | |
| 4 | Papette, Venice | 3 | 148 to 150 | 1954 to 1955 | Modified series 3 desgn |
| 5 | ACNIL, Venice | 5 | 151 to 155 | 1960 to 1962 | |
| 6 | 3 | 161 - 163 | 1962 | Celli type fast vessels with a top speed of 22 knots constructed in light alloy with an angular hull | |
| 7 | 9 | 171 to 179 | 1964 | ||
| 8 | De Poli, Castracani, Toffolo | 190 to 225 | 1978 | Similar to series 3 | |
| 9 | 1 | 230 | 2000 | An experimental vessel in aluminium | |
| 10 | Cantiere Navale de Poli SpA, Venice | 266 onwards | 2005 to 2006 | Similar to series 8 | |
| Papette, Venice | 182 to 183 | 1964 | Alfa Romeo Diesel. Used as tug boats. | ||
| Cantieri Tagliapietra Venezia | 102 to 105 | 1988 | Volvo Penta D41 LDS Diesel. Single-crew operation, designed for less busy routes. |