|
| Title |
REPORT TO CONGRESS. STUDY OF HIGH SPEED WATERBORNE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WORLDWIDE
|
| Accession No |
00390705 |
Corp. Authors
/ Publisher |
Advanced Marine Systems Associates, Incorporated  ; Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company ; Office of the Secretary of Transportation
|
| Publication Date |
19840800 |
| Description |
v.p.
|
| Abstract |
In respose to Congressional mandate, UMTA engaged in an extensive evaluation of high speed waterborne (HSW) passenger transportation in the U.S. and throughout the free world. The study reviewed the history of HSW, determined its current status and examined factors that might impact its future development. Unsubsidized HSW operated by the private sector was emphasized in analyzing potential U.S. sites. The U.S. site analyses included domestic, as well as foreign craft. High interest rates and the investment required to establish HSW service make the financial feasibility of operations sensitive to the cost of capital. A vessel capable of satisfactory service must also have low initial costs and be economical to operate and maintain. As a group, craft of foreign origin meet these criteria best. Were foreign technology employed, the study indicated that HSW service could be operated profitably by the private sector in some markets. A study of 10 such sites, indicated that nine might, under certain conditions, be feasible. Conditions are: (1) Competitive in time with other transport services, (2) Competitive in cost; (3) Need to capture only a small share of an existing travel market for economic viability. Primary market for HSW abroad is travel times under 45 minutes. Despite relatively high seat-mile costs, travelers abroad often pay a premimum fare for travel time savings, convenience and/or novelty of HSW. HSW craft operate safely in great variety of adverse locations. Foreign HSW development has been orderly with private sector and unsubsidized service often viable. In contrast, in the U.S. HSW has been beset by inadequate capitalization and has operated with unproven vessels. |
| TRT Terms |
Catamarans ; Feasibility analysis ; Ferries ; High speed ground transportation ; History ; Hydrofoils ; Operating costs ; Private enterprise |
| Other Terms |
Feasibility; High speed transportation; Private sector |
| Subject Areas |
U31 CONVENTIONAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES |
| Availability |
Office of the Secretary of Transportation |
| TRIS Files |
UMTRIS |
| Database |
TRIS Online |
|
TRT
