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.
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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
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
Tagus River sailing boat, similar to the Varino de Carga and used for the same purposes.
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
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
Douro River flat-bottomed, keel-less vessel, used mainly for transport of wine from the lands of upper Douro to Porto.
Cangueiro
Tagus River round-bottomed, double-ended, four-wale sailing barge, used to move heavy construction materials.
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
Douro River flat-bottomed, clinker building vessel, used for fishing and personnel and cargo transport.
Barcaça da Areia
Small flat-bottomed, double-ended vessel used in upper Tagus River for transport of sand for hydraulic engineering.
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
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
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
Tagus River flat-bottomed, keel-less sailing vessel with a narrow transom, used at vila franca for fishing and transport of passengers.
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
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 oars
Small, flat-bottomed vessel used in upper Tagus River for transport of materials for hydraulic engineering.
Caíque
Tâmega and Douro rivers are flat-bottomed, keel-less vessels with a narrow transom, used for transport and fishing.
Cargo barge
Douro River barge used for transport of heavy cargo or passengers, fitted with oars or spritsail.
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
Tagus River flat-bottomed, four wale sailing barge, used for loading and unloading cargo ships moored at the harbor of Lisbon.
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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