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River
Vltava, Prague, Czech Republic
Prague
Passenger Shipping (Prazska Paroplavebni Spolecnost) -
PPS
Vysehrad
in Prague where locks and channels are used to allow passage through
the shallow river and its weirs. Photo by kind courtesy of Nigel
Clark
The operators of the two
remaining sidewheelers is the PPS, successor to the Prague operations
of the Prague City Transport Company, which took over the local fleet
of the Czech state Shipping Company (CPSL) in 1961. The company has
reverted to the name used until 1937 and little changed from that
used since its grounding in 1865.
The largest of a number of shipping companies established in Prague
in the wake of the liberalisation of the economy in the
post-Communist era, the PPS has operated a rather unpredictable
service of local cruises plus longer trips to the Slapy Dam, the
traditional destination of cruises from Prague. PPS also
operates a limited number of cruises northwards along the Vltava to
the confluence of the Vltava and Labe (Elbe) at Melnik.
Paddlers Vltava and Vysehrad (ex-Devin) have been restored. The
planned refurbishment of Vysehrad (III) stalled due to lack of funds
and the vessel, having lost its name to Devin, remains in
poor condition and although used as a floating bar in Prague, is
unlikely to be restored.. PS Labe was sold for further use in Germany
but returned to Czechia in 2022 to operate cruises on the Labe/Elbe out
of Decin (and under local ownership) from 2023
A close cooperation agreement has now been signed with the second
largest local cruise firm, EVD (Europska vodni doprava) and the fleet
is marketed under the PPS-EVD banner. As well as four smaller motor
vessels to complement seven motor vessels in the PPS fleet, the EVD
also brought to the fleet the motor stern-wheel paddler Sumava, a
converted tug.
OPERATIONAL PADDLE
STEAMERS
Vysehrad Note : currently out of service and used statically in Prague pending a review
Vltava
STATIC PADDLE STEAMER
Vysehrad
(name now allocated to the steamer above)
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