River Traffic Vessels

This exhibition tells us about the diversity and the rich aesthetic of vessels used along the waterways giving access to the interior of the country.

Watercourses were, until very recently, the preferred means of communication to link many places and people. Used essentially for transporting both passengers and cargo, these vessels filled the river estuaries until the middle of the last century.

"Culé" or Boat of the upper river (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Culé or Boat of the upper river

Small varino, flat-bottomed, used in Tagus River for unloading in Lisbon salt and other goods from shallow water ports of the south bank of the river.

"Varino" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Varino

Tagus River sailing boat, similar to the Varino de Carga and used for the same purposes.

"Lancha" de Vila Franca de Xira (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Lancha de Vila Franca de Xira

Flat-bottomed, two-wale, fine-lined sailing vessel, with a narrow transom and rigged with spirit sail, used in upper Tagus River, at Vila Franca de Xira, for transport of goods and passengers.

"Moliceiro" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Amadeu Marques and Luís António MarquesPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Moliceiro

Flat-bottomed, low-drafted, double-ended vessel with an accentuated curvature of the bow and stern, used in Ria de Aveiro for gathering and transport of moliço, submerged vegetation employed as soil fertilizer.

"Rabelo" Boat (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Rabelo Boat


Douro River flat-bottomed, keel-less vessel, used mainly for transport of wine from the lands of upper Douro to Porto.

"Cangueiro" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Cangueiro

Tagus River round-bottomed, double-ended, four-wale sailing barge, used to move heavy construction materials.

"Falua" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Falua

Tagus River round-bottomed, four wale sailing barge, used for fast transport of passengers and agricultural produce, over a set route connecting Lisbon to Seixal at the south bank of the river.

Valboeiro or Avintes Boat (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Valboeiro or Avintes Boat

Douro River flat-bottomed, clinker building vessel, used for fishing and personnel and cargo transport. 

"Barcaça da Areia" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Barcaça da Areia

Small flat-bottomed, double-ended vessel used in upper Tagus River for transport of sand for hydraulic engineering.

Tagus River Boat (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Tagus River Boat

Tagus River vessel, round and hollow bottomed, with accentuated bilges and a keel of only half of the height of the one of the round-bottomed Tagus boats, conceived to sail in shoal waters used for transport of general cargo and passengers.

Frigate boat "Novo Portugal" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Frigate boat Novo Portugal

A hybrid vessel of the fragata and the bote types, built in lesser dimensions than the former, used in River Tagus for the same tasks of both of them.

Canoe "Cacilheira" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Canoe Cacilheira

Tagus River round-bottomed, two wale open sailing boats, used for light goods and passenger service between the banks of the river, over the route Lisbon-Cacilhas-Lisbon.

"Praieira de Vila Franca" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Praieira de Vila Franca


Tagus River flat-bottomed, keel-less sailing vessel with a narrow transom, used at vila franca for fishing and transport of passengers.

Merchant boat (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Merchant boat

Flat-bottomed, low-drafted, double-ended vessel, with accentuated curvature of the bow and stern, used in Ria de Aveiro, for transportation of passengers and goods.

"Falua do Búgio" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Falua do Búgio

Tagus River round-bottomed, four wale sailing barge, used for fast transport of passengers and agricultural produce, over a set route connecting Lisbon to Seixal at the south bank of the River.

"Abrangel" of 2 roars (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Abrangel of 2 oars


Small, flat-bottomed vessel used in upper Tagus River for transport of materials for hydraulic engineering.

"Caíque" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Caíque

Tâmega and Douro rivers are flat-bottomed, keel-less vessels with a narrow transom, used for transport and fishing.

Cargo barge (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Cargo barge


Douro River barge used for transport of heavy cargo or passengers, fitted with oars or spritsail.

Boat "Catraio" (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Boat Catraio

Tagus River round-bottomed, two wale sailing boats, used in the shore-ship-shore connections, for fast transport of passengers and their luggage.

"Varino" of charge (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Varino of charge


Tagus River flat-bottomed, four wale sailing barge, used for loading and unloading cargo ships moored at the harbor of Lisbon.

Frigate of charge (c. 1901 - c. 2000) by Seixas WorkshopPortuguese Maritime Museum, a world of discoveries

Frigate of charge

Tagus River round-bottomed, plumb-stemmed, four-wale sailing barge. Used for loading and unloading operations of cargo ships moored at the harbor of Lisbon.

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