User:Luziyca/Sandbox
| File:IMSlogo.png | |
| State-owned enterprise | |
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | Cuanstad, Imagua and the Assimas (1953) |
| Headquarters | Cuanstad, Imagua and the Assimas |
| Products | Ferry service |
The Imaguan Maritime Service (Etrurian: Servizio marittimo imaguano) is a state-run ferry operator providing ferry services between the Imaguan islands of Avitabile Island, Dunhelm Island, the island of Imagua, and San Sigfrido Island.
Established in 1953, it was intended to unite Imagua and the Assimas by providing regular ferry transportation at "an affordable price," so to ensure that all Imaguans could freely travel between the islands.
History
After the end of the Solarian War in 1946, the Province of Imagua annexed the Assimas Islands. This led to discussion around the possibility of a state-run ferry across the Pilastri Straits to connect the newly-acquired territory, especially as government officials advocated for a government-owned ferry to connect the Assimas to the island of Imagua.
However, at the time, it was met with opposition from the Sotirian Democratic government led by Frederick Maynard, as he believed that it should be a private service, and that by establishing a state-run ferry, it would "drive out all private competition out of business," which would harm the Imaguan economy. By 1947, ferries started to operate between the islands, but prices were steep, with a price for a one-way crossing between Cuanstad and San Pietro around 4ſ31 in 1949, or about 1,317ſ91, or €174.63 as of 2018.
Outcry at the high prices meant that when Sotty Haloranov of the Democratic Labour Party was elected in 1952, one of his pledges was to establish a state-run ferry service in order to lower ferry prices and to unite Imagua and the Assimas. Haloranov specifically requested that fares be set to 25d for a single crossing on any route (about 60ſ54 in 2018, or €8.02), regardless of distance, so that "any Imaguan can, without fear of cost, travel from one island to another."
In 1953, the Maritime Transportation Act of 1953 was passed, which established the Imaguan Maritime Service as an agency of the Ministry of Transportation. Under the direct control of the Ministry of Transportation, the government would purchase ships from (TBA) and (TBD) to create a fleet that would provide for "a minimum of four crossings per day" on each of the routes, and by 1954, the Imaguan Maritime Services commenced operations. Despite proposals by Sotirian Democratic Prime Minister Martin Ellingham to abolish the Imaguan Maritime Service in the late 1950s, the Imaguan Maritime Service would remain an agency of the Ministry of Transportation until 1981.
In 1981, as part of Pietro Muro's austerity budget, it became a state-owned enterprise, with the Imaguan Maritime Service restructured so to be run more like a corporation. As well, the number of routes operated by the Imaguan Maritime Service were substantially reduced to four routes, with all routes to Guardia Island (in particular, the village of Oniri) cut, as well as all "intra-Imaguan routes" (i.e. routes only serving the island of Imagua).
Routes
Current routes
Since 1 April, 1981, there are only four routes operated by the Imaguan Maritime Service.
- Cuanstad-San Pietro
- Rutigliano-San Pietro
- Nua Taois-San Pietro
- Nua Taois-Sant'Osorio
All routes are operated hourly from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, on all days except Christmas Day.
Former routes
Until 1981, Imaguan Maritime Services operated nine routes, including the three current routes. They were:
- Cuanstad-Lundholm-Bellmare-Saint-André-Saint Fiacre's Town-Nua Taois
- Knowleston-Bronstad-Cuanstad
- Knowleston-San Pietro
- Nua Taois-Knowleston-Bronstad-Cuanstad
- Oniri-San Pietro
- Rutigliano-Oniri
One route was operated from 1953 until 1955, the service between Nua Taois and Dunhelm Island. The service was discontinued following Maracao's invasion of the island.
Fleet
The current fleet of the Imaguan Maritime Service comprises of seven ships, designed to ensure reliable hourly service on the routes. Since 2006, all Imaguan Maritime Service ferries are ninety-eight metre catamarans produced by TBD, each with ropax capabilities, as they offer space for both vehicles and passengers.