Brazil to build 600 boats to transport schoolchildren

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil to build 600 boats to transport schoolchildren
Irish Sun
Friday 30th October, 2009
(IANS)



Brazil's navy has announced that it will build 600 boats that will be used to transport students to public schools in areas where the main communication routes are via rivers or across other water bodies.

The so-called 'school-launches' will be build at three navy bases with shipyard capability, according to an agreement between the Naval Engineering Directorate and the education ministry.

The accord forecasts the production of up to 3,000 boats for student transport, but the initial contract includes just 600 boats.

The navy's decision to build the boats is aimed at spurring naval construction in Brazil and taking advantage of the available industrial capacity on naval bases, according to the communique Thursday.

The boat-building project was signed by navy engineers, who committed themselves to delivering the first 180 of the boats next year, another 360 in 2011 and the remaining 60 in 2012.

Half the launches will be built at the Val-des-Caes navy base, another 200 at the Natal base and the remaining 100 at the Aratu base.

The aluminium boats will be outfitted with 90-horsepower engines and will be 7.3 meters long.

The education ministry says the boats will benefit public school students in 208 municipalities, some of which are only accessible via boat or aircraft.

More:
http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/559983/cs/1/

[Peace Patriot]

1. This is what military budgets should be used for! Helping people!

But I feel ambivalent about putting so many potentially polluting engines on Brazil's waterways. I wish they could have done something more innovative--less polluting, quieter, more environment-friendly. (Are there solar powered engines for boats?)

The article says: "In at least 65 of the 143 municipalities in Para, students go to school in canoes and boats, half of them operated by private individuals and the cost of which has to be paid for by the municipalities or by their parents."

Canoes don't pollute. Sailboats don't pollute. And solar power is free, and has minimal pollution (battery mfr and disposal), compared to gas. Gasoline and engine noise are very disruptive to wildlife, and gas/oil, of course, harm water and air quality.

This problem of course needed to be solved--and the solution is a good one. It creates good jobs, stimulates the economy and gets the kids to school at less cost to their parents and probably safer. Also, of the boats currently in use, many are likely old, inefficient gas-eaters and polluters. Probably not many of them are beautiful canoes gliding quietly down the river by skilled oarsmen. Still...hundreds and eventually thousands of more motors, and more gasoline, in rivers and streams! Why not equip them with computers and teach them on-line, for that cost?

[Braulio]

2. Building aluminum boats isn't exactly "military"

It's just a side-show. I suppose they want to look sociable. You're proposing some pretty outlandish boats, such as sail boats. I guess you never tried to ride a boat up a south american river in the rainy season :-)