After 62 Years, Barranquilla Welcomes Its First New Ferry.

Coming from Australia where catching a ferry is a popular mode of transport for commuters and tourists in 3 of Australia’s major cities, and a couple of rivers, I was surprised (initially), that Barranquilla (being a river city), didn’t have regular ferry services.

But it did…The last of the ferries plying the Magdalena River shut their boilers down in 1961, a sad day for those who loved to see them chugging along the water.

Now, after 62 years, Barranquilla welcomes the first of a new generation of ferries.

A look at the history of Barranquilla and you get the feeling that it is in many ways an accidental city that was largely bypassed due to the mouth of the Rio Magdalena being a dynamic ever changing system of shifting Islands, sand bars, and changes in water depth which made it practically impenetrable.

The early colonizers decided the best way to bypass the river mouth was to establish a link between Cartagena and the Magdalena, thereby, connecting Bogota and providing an access to the world for trade.

The colonizers did this by connecting a series of swamps over a distance of about 100klms from Cartagena with, initially the town of Barranca Nueva, then in a later design, to Calamar (about a 10 minute drive away), which sits at the junction of the Magdalena and Canal del Dique,112klms from Barranquilla.

In the early to mid 1800’s steam boats were making the moving of people and produce across the world more efficient, and, just like in Australia, Colombia also had steam powered ferries to move people and produce from one part of the river to another, or to Cartagena, which was Colombia’s departure point to other places in the world.

Over time, trade moved away from Cartagena to Santa Marta and a new Port at Sabanilla which was eventually connected by rail to Barranquilla.

During the 1930s a canal was constructed through the mouth of the Magdalena allowing safe passage for shipping into and out of Barranquilla.

The downside of this was the railway lines from Puerto Colombia to Barranquilla, and Cartagena to Calamar were no longer required, and were pulled up.

With increased road networks the river ferries were eventually pensioned off (from around Barranquilla at least).

After having turned its back on the river for so long, the city fathers have decided it is time to take notice of the river again.

While the above gives some history of the Rio Magdalena. The new ferry is also remembering the past.

The Name of the New RioBus.

Since its arrival on the 5th June from Cartagena (where it was constructed), people have been curious as to the name given to the “RioBus”… Karakalí.

Karakalí, which means “river of alligators,” was the name used by the Caribs, who inhabited the region before the Spanish arrived.

On April 1, 1501, Rodrigo de Bastidas saw the mouth of the river and named it in honor of Santa María Magdalena, as it was her “feast” day.

The river has also been known by other names, including Arlí, which means “river of the fish,” and Guaca-hayo, which means “river of the graves,” where a mythical culture, which is still a mystery, said their last goodbyes to the dead.”

The Muiscas called it Yuma, which means “river of the friendly country and the mountains.”

The river’s name reflects its rich history and the diverse cultures that have inhabited its shores.

Karakalí, Arlí, Guaca-hayo, Yuma – each name tells a story about the river and the people who have lived along it.

The Capacity and Speed of the Ferry

With two diesel engines enabling cruising speeds of between 11 and 17 knots on this steel hulled boat, the Karakalí is able to carry 60 passengers in airconditioned comfort, with rest rooms and great views of the river and city.

There is also storage space, and space in the bow area to park bicycles.

The Routes it will Service.

Currently these are still being finalised.

However according to the city’s mayor there will be initially be two stops between the River administration and the Grán Malecón, “but the idea is for it to take you all the way to Puerto Mocho.”

The plan is for the Río Bus to eventually reach Malambo, and over time build out the routes and create a small fleet of ferries.

Michael.