M/V ''Melinka'' is a ferry () owned by the Transbordadora Austral Broom S.A. shipping company in

Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego (, ; Spanish for "Land of the Fire", rarely also Fireland in English) is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of the main island, Isla ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

. The ship was built by Tracor Marine of Port Everglades,

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, USA, and launched in 1964. Until about 2009 ''Melinka'' provided a daily (or near-daily) transport service across the Strait of Magellan between Tres Puentes, near

Punta Arenas Punta Arenas (; historically Sandy Point in English) is the capital city of Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antarctica Chilena. The city was officially renamed as Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to "Punta Are ...

and Bahía Chilote, near Porvenir. Since about 2009 other ferry ships have been used, and the ''Melinka'' has been used to transport vehicles, equipment, and passengers from the mainland to Isla Riesco. However, even as late a 2013 the Melinka has been used for its traditional route between Tres Puentes and Bahía Chilote. ''Melinka'' can transport up to 230 passengers and has a deck for approximately 23 vehicles. It also has a coffee service for passengers.

References

1964 ships Ships built in Florida Ferries of Chile Strait of Magellan Tierra del Fuego {{ferry-stub

See also

References