Imaguan Maritime Service
| File:IMSlogo.png | |
| State-owned enterprise | |
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | Cuanstad, Imagua and the Assimas (1953) |
| Headquarters | Cuanstad, Imagua and the Assimas |
| Products | Ferry service |
Imaguan Maritime Service (Etrurian: Servizio marittimo imaguano) is a state-run ferry operator providing ferry services between the Imaguan islands of Imagua, Avitabile Island, and Ineweyu 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, Imagua annexed the Assimas Islands to create what would become Imagua and the Assimas.
With this, discussion soon arose around the possibility of a ferry across the Pilastri Straits to connect the newly-acquired territory, especially as officials and activists 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 Conservative 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 Marguerite Ernman of the Democratic Labour Party was elected in 1952, one of her pledges was to establish a pan-national institution to help unite Imagua and the Assimas into one nation.
One of the ways she went about it was establishing a state-run ferry service with the intention of connecting Imagua with the Assimas, as it would not only unite the country by ensuring that people can travel between the islands freely, but also would help lower prices as fares would be set to 25d for a single crossing on any route (about 60ſ54 in 2018, or €8.02), which would ensure that more people can travel to the other islands.
Thus, after the Maritime Transportation Act of 1953 was passed, the Imaguan Ferry Service was formed as an agency of the Ministry of Transportation, which would remain as such until 1981.
In 1981, under Anthony Brockett, 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 three 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 three routes operated by the Imaguan Maritime Service.
- Cuanstad-San Pietro
- Rutigliano-San Pietro
- Nua Taois-San Pietro
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.