ESPECULADORA SEGUNDA TERCEIRA URCA

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The Guanabara Bay crossing between Rio de Janeiro and Niterór is as old as the first Indians used their canoes. The slaves made the crossing in small boats like faluas, which have disappeared nowadays.
In 1820 the first passage took place by a steamboat across this water.

The first ferry that sailed from Côrte Ferry Station at Rio to the Nictheroy (Niterói) Station was named BRAGANÇA.
14 October 1835 Companhia de Navegação Nictheroy began the ferry service by using three vessels, the NITEROIENSE, PARIA GRANDE and ESPECULADORA, the last is depict on a Brazil stamp issued in 1985 of 500cr. Each vessel could carry 250 passengers and cargo. The service was only during daylight between 06.00 a.m. till 06.00 p.m.
The ESPECULADORA had a tragic end; it blew up by a huge explosion on 25 March 1844 on a trip from Rio to Niterói, with the loss of life of more as 60 passengers.

The first merger between the rival companies took place in 1855 between the already existing companies Cia de Navegação de Nictheroy and the Cia. Inhomerim, the last company was founded in 1840. The new company was named Cia de Navegação de Niterói & Inhomerim. Together both companies had 9 vessels.
In 1862 a new ferry company was founded, Cia Ferry and the service was inaugurated during a big party in the presence of Don Pedro II. The new company had three screw steam ferries, at least a century ahead of the old paddlesteamers in use by the Cia. De Navegação de Niterói & Inhomerim.

After four years the Cia Ferry was the most powerful ferry company in the service. The company was sold on 05 July 1877 when they commenced a service to Paquetá.
In 1870 a new competitor appears the Fluminense Company, they set in three screw ferries. A tariff war broke out for the passengers and cargo between the three rival companies in this service, benefiting the users of the service.
In 1873 the control of the Fluminense Company was passed to the Cia. Ferry Carril Niteroinse.

After four years again the Cia. Ferry was the most powerful company in the service, when they did take over the Ferry Carril company ownership.
1889 All the urban companies and water supply boats of Niterói merged together, and the new founded company was named in October the same year Cia Cantareira Viação Fluminense through the merger with the Company of Public Works in Brazil, which two days before took over the Cia. Ferry, the urban carriers companies and the water supplying boats of Nietheroy.

In September 1945 a new company began to operate on the ferry service, the Carioca company.

Cia Cantareira Viação Fluminese bogged in depts, was taken over in 1945 by the Carioca company. The two companies continue to operate under their old names, but were owned by the owner of the Carioca Company.
Both companies operated satisfactory for the users, despite the savageries that occurred during the trips.
Four new screw ferries were added to the fleet, the PERUANA, MEXICANA, URUGUAI and YANKEE.
The Carreteiro family got in 1950 permission to work in the Niterói-Rio ferry service.

Then the Barreto Company appears, with the Araribòia motor boats, which the following year got the shareholding control of the Carioca company and the Cia. Cantareira. The new company, which owners did belong to an old traditional family of ship builders of Niterói, commenced their ferry operation on 19 October 1953. They asked for public funding of the service by the state, and there was also threats of strikes by the employees of the service, what had become a not more reliable service anymore, with many delays and interruptions, which caused a public revolt on 22 May 1959, when the costumers of the ferry service destroyed and set on fire the old passenger station of Niterói.

This set the Government of the state and the President of the Republic Juscelino Kubitschek in motion, and on 20 July 1959 a Decree Law No 46.508 passed, where the State got ownership of the three companies Carioca, Cia. Cantareira and Fróta Barreto.
Management was transferred to the Serviços de Transportes da Baia de Guanabara (STBG) belonging to the Ministry of Transport on 10 February 1967, when the President of the Republic, Humberto Castello Branco signs a decree which authorized the continuation of the services of the three companies in the Bay of Guanabara.

From that moment the service improved across the Bay of Guanabara, and new ferries were ordered. Till 1979 the name STBG was used then the shareholders in a special meeting decided to rename it in Company of Navigation of the State of Rio de Janeiro on 17 June 1977, when the President granted all rights and goods of the STBG to the state of Rio de Janeiro. Two years later the name was changed to CONERJ (Cia de Navegação do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.)

Up initiative of the State Government on 12 February 1998 a group of private companies got the shareholding control of the CONERJ and the right to maintain a service for the transport of passengers and vehicles on the waterways in the state, for a period of 25 years.
November 1998 the name of the company was changed to Barcas S/A., and investments were made in the improvement of the services and lines through regular kept schedules, it is a 24 hours service, during peak times, with a interval of 10 minutes between sailings, in the afternoon on Fridays when passenger volume increased to 40.000, the ferries leave every 8 minutes. From midnight till 5 am it is an hourly service.
The company runs 11 ferries in the bay crossing.

The company will rebuild and restore the Araribóia Station, which was built in 1908 and in 1956 modernized. The project designed by Niemeyer Oscar has planed to build a new station on the foundation of the Palácio do Planalto, the building designed with horizontal and circular lines and light columns, a characteristic of the designer.
An other important project is the construction of Charitas Station that will link the station with Praça XV downtown, and will make the station suitable for catamaran type vessels to use, as given in the contract of concessions between the Government and Barcas S/A. The station will have an internal TV circuit, easy road access and will have on the seaside a glass panel of 58 meters.

Four stamps were issued by Brazil in 1985 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the ferry service at Rio de Janeiro, which crossed the Bay of Guanabara to Niterói.

ESPECULADORA, which inaugurated the Rio-Niteroi fery service for Companhia de Navegação Nictheroy on 14 October1835. She carried on that voyage 600 passengers plus cargo
Could carry up to 250 persons and cargo.
She blew up on 25 March 1844 on a crossing from Rio to Niterói, with the loss of at least 60 passengers.

SEGUNDA: She was one of the nicest looking ferries used in this service and was owned by Cia Ferry.
Placed in this service on 29 June 1862. She was later owned by Cia Ferro Carril Niteroiense e.a. and Empresa Fluminense.

TERCEIRA: Built in 1911 by Estaleiro Rodrigues Alves at Niterói. Wooden hulled paddlesteamer. Could carry up to 800 passengers and 12 vehicles.
Refitted and modernized in 1952.
1967 The service was taken over by the government with the formation of a joint stock company STBG S/A.
1977 Control of the company was transferred to the state of Rio de Janeiro and the STBG became CONERJ.

URCA: The ferry URCA was delivered to the company in March 1981, she was a successful ferry, and later two more ferries of this type were ordered.
She was built together with the ferry BOA VIAGEM.
One of the innovations during the construction of the vessel, is that she is computerized in engineroom and wheelhouse. She is fitted out with the latest navigational equipment.

Brazil 1985 500cr sg 2194/97, scott2027/30

Source: Pimba-List, translated from Portuguese by Mr. Mario Rosner. Log Book Vol. 27.