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 |
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 three 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. By 1980, the Imaguan Maritime Service would reach its peak, with nine routes serving twelve stops.
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). Furthermore, some stops, such as Dunhelm Lookout on the Nua Taois-Lapprodo route, were cut entirely.
In the late 1990s, the Imaguan Maritime Service began to modernise its fleet, with an order of five ninety-eight metre catamarans produced by TBD in order to replace the "assorted collection of ships" that the Imaguan Maritime Service had since its inception. The new ships were to all have ropax capabilities, as although most ships in the fleet had space for vehicles, some were passenger-only, which impeded the ability for people to take their cars from island to island. The first catamaran arrived in 2002, and by 2006, with the introduction of the last catamaran, the Imaguan Maritime Service's fleet was declared to be fully modernised.
Routes
Current routes
Since 1 April, 1981, there are only four routes operated by the Imaguan Maritime Service.
- Cuanstad-San Pietro
- Rutigliano-San Pietro
- Lapprodo-Nua Taois
- Nua Taois-San Pietro
Most routes are only operated three times a day in both directions between 5 am and 2 am, although the Cuantad-San Pietro route operates four times a day in the direction of Cuanstad, and the Rutigliano-San Pietro route operates four times a day in both directions.
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
- Nua Taois-Knowleston-Bronstad-Cuanstad
- Knowleston-San Pietro
- Oniri-San Pietro
- Rutigliano-Oniri
Fleet
The current fleet of the Imaguan Maritime Service comprises of five ships, with four assigned to serve on each of the four routes, and one to serve as a backup vessel in case one of the other four vessels breaks down or needs to undergo maintenance, or as a relief vessel if demand is higher than normal.
Since 2006, all Imaguan Maritime Service ferries are ninety-eight metre catamarans produced by TBD, each with ropax capabilities, as the catamarans offer space for up to 760 passengers and 200 vehicles. Each catamaran has a top speed of 40 knots (74 km/h), which vastly improved travel times between the islands.
Current fleet
| Name | Entered service | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSC Dunhelm 3 | 2006 | Lapprodo-Nua Taois | |
| HSC Friendship | 2004 | Backup | Served on the San Pietro-Cuanstad route from 2004 until 2005, and the Nua Taois-Lapprodo route from 2005 until 2006 |
| HSC Settentrionale | 2002 | Nua Taois-San Pietro | |
| HSC Tramonto | 2003 | Rutigliano-San Pietro | |
| HSC Unità | 2005 | San Pietro-Cuanstad |
Former fleet
| Name | Entered service | Withdrawn from service | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Assiman | 1954 | 1981 | Rutigliano-Oniri-San Pietro | |
| SS Dunhelm | 1954 | 1973 | Lapprodo-Nua Taois | Often called SS Dunhelm 1 as a retronym |
| MV Dunhelm 2 | 1973 | 2004 | Lapprodo-Nua Taois | |
| SS Imagua | 1954 | 1963 | Cuanstad-Nua Taois west coast | Often called SS Imagua 1 as a retronym |
| MS Imagua 2 | 1963 | 1981 | Cuanstad-Nua Taois west coast | |
| SS Knowleston | 1954 | 1962 | Knowleston-San Pietro | Sank during a storm in 1962 |
| MV New Dawn | 1964 | 1981 | Knowleston-San Pietro | |
| MV Oniri | 1954 | 1976 | Oniri-San Pietro | Often called MV Oniri 1 as a retronym |
| MV Oniri 2 | 1976 | 1981 | Oniri-San Pietro | |
| MS Saint Andrew 1 | 1954 | 1970 | Nua Taois-Cuanstad east coast | |
| MS Saint Andrew 2 | 1970 | 1981 | Nua Taois-Cuanstad east coast | |
| MS San Pietro | 1974 | 2004 | Cuanstad-San Pietro | Was called MS Saint Peter from 1974 until 1994 |
| MS Unity | 1954 | 1974 | Cuanstad-San Pietro |