I haven't edited this fully, but I can always replace this text when I have finished that task.
The tech specs are from the booking agent, and are not on the website.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
SWPS Benjamim Guimarães (Benjamim is what is painted on the boat, not Benjamin)
www.pirapora.mg.gov.br/index.php?page=paginas&idPaginaAvulsa=13Vapor Benjamim Guimarães:
Cruise at Rio São Francisco
Pirapora - mg - Brazil
A trip to go back in time...
Important data regarding vapor Benjamim Guimarães:
Year of manufacturing = 1913
Manufacturer = James Rees & co
Manufacturing location = Mississippi, USA
Rivers where it has sailed = Mississippi River, Amazonas River & mainly São Francisco River.
No. of cabins = 12
Total number of passengers that it carries today = 24
Total capacity = 200 passengers
Number of crew members = 25
Length = 44 m
Width = 8 m
Number of decks = three
1st deck = wood deposit - machinery - kitchen - crew lodging.
2nd deck = restaurant - 12 double cabins - bar - living room - two bathrooms/men's locker room + two women's locker room.
3rd deck = command cabin - commander's lodging - lounge
Maximum speed downstream = 18 km/h
Maximum speed upstream = 9 km/h
Fuel = wood (reforesting), 1 cubic meter per hour
Distance sailed (Pirapora/São Romão/Pirapora) = 400 km
Date of registration by Iepha (Instituto Estadual Do Patrimônio Histórico & Artístico De Minas Gerais) 1.8.85 (single vessel with registration title in Brazil).
Current owner = Pirapora city hall
1st day - Belo Horizonte/Pirapora (350km). The transportation leaves Belo Horizonte, from confins international airport (cnf), at approximately 10.00. Lunch on the way at the restaurant leite ao pé da vaca. Arrival at Pirapora at 17.00 pm. Steamboat check-in. Welcome reception. Basic information will be provided about the tour. Cabins distribution. Dinner. Crew presentation in full dress.
2nd day - Pirapora/ Barra do Guaicui/ Ibiaí. Breakfast at the steamboat - departure at 8.00, on microbus, for a city tour on Pirapora. Important industrialization pole, north of the state of minas gerais. Current population of 52 000 inhabitants. We will visit the bridge marechal hermes with 694 m length, opened in 1922. Entirely built in a metallic structure made in belgium. We will visit the diniz dumont family foundation, with its embroideries that have already illustrated books from ziraldo, jorge amado and cd cover from maria bethania. We will visit carranqueiros association where the local artisans entail the scary images that are considered protectors against bad energies from boats in the São Francisco river. Time to purchase the famous baru bonbons (castanha do serrado). Return to the steamboat. Steamboat departure at 10.30. Lunch. Arrival at barra do guaicuí at 13.00m, at the crossing of rio das velhas with São Francisco. One of the most photographed spots of the trip and the ruins of the stone church unfinished by slaves from the 17th century (bom jesus de matozinhos church) which currently has a huge fig tree growing over it. We will also visit a rich collection of sacred arts. It was also in guaicuí that riobaldo declared his love for diadorim (novel the devil to pay in the backlands by joão guimarães rosa, launched in 1956). Return to the steamboat. Departure at 14.00. Arrival at Ibiaí at 19.00m where the steamboat will be entered in the port all night. Dinner at the steamboat. The passengers can get off from the boat at any time to visit the city on their own. Ibiaí has a current population of 7000 inhabitants and a beautiful beach that only appears in the dry season (april to october). It has a pleasant square with popular bars in its surroundings.
3rd day Ibiaí/cachoeira do manteiga/São Romão. Breakfast at the steamboat. Departure at 8.00. Lunch. Arrival at the village of cachoeira do manteiga at 12.30. District of buritizeiro, current population of 3000 inhabitants. The passengers can get off and visit the village on their own. Departure of steamboat at 14.30. Arrival at São Romão at 17.30. Next, we will make a city tour on a microbus. São Romão was founded in 1668 under the name of santo antonio da manga. Its first inhabitants were the caiapos indians. It staged violent battles between outlaws from brazil and portugal. Its glorious period was in the 19th century, acting as a port to move the gold and as a coin minting location. We will visit the church of nossa senhora do rosário, one of the first buildings of the city, and the public jail, built in 1880, fully restored. Return to the steamboat. Dinner. It is possible to get off at any time to visit the city.
4th day - São Romão/Ibiaí. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the steamboat. Full navigation day. Departure from São Romão at 7.00. Arrival at Ibiaí at 20.00. During the day, with the small support boat, we will make small tours on the river and around the steamboat, in small groups. At night, the passengers can get off at any time to visit Ibiaí.
5th day - Ibiaí/Pirapora. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the steamboat. Full navigation day. Departure from Ibiaí at 7.00. Arrival at Pirapora at 8.00. During the day, an informative lecture will be presented with the following themes:, São Francisco river and its importance, the polemic transposition of the river and other subjects of general interest. In the last dinner, the commander and his entire crew have dinner with the passengers, in a farewell environment.
6th day - Pirapora/Belo Horizonte (350km). Breakfast at the steamboat. Landing at 9.00. Return to Belo Horizonte. Lunch on the way at leite ao pé da vaca restaurant. Estimated arrival at the confins international airport (cnf) at 17.00.
Vapor Benjamin Guimarães Foi Reinaugurado:
O vapor Benjamin Guimarães voltou a navegar pelo rio São Francisco. O vapor fez uma viagem de reinauguração, saindo do porto de Pirapora (MG) até o distrito industrial da cidade. Durante o trajeto, 140 pessoas, entre autoridades e população, degustaram uvas sem semente e cachaça produzidas na região. A capacidade total da embarcação é de 170 pessoas.
Os trabalhos de restauro exigiram investimento de R$ 600 mil, feitos pelo Ministério do Turismo, via lei de incentivo. Por enquanto, não há previsão de quando moradores e visitantes poderão passear pelas águas do Velho Chico a bordo do Benjamin. Uma audiência pública, sem data marcada ainda, vai discutir com a população se a prefeitura vai administrar os passeios ou se haverá terceirização. A embarcação ficou parada por quase 14 anos, no cais de Pirapora.
O vapor é o único modelo existente deste tipo no mundo, ainda em atividade. Originário do Mississipe, o Benjamin Guimarães foi construído em 1913, nos EUA. Nos anos 20, depois de navegar por algum tempo no Amazonas, foi adquirido pela empresa Julio Mourão Guimarães, daí batizado pelo nome de Benjamim Guimarães. Em 1963 ficou sob a guarda do serviço da Comissão do Vale São Francisco (CVSF). O Benjamin Guimarães, junto com outros vapores da mesma origem, os 'gaiolas' Barão de Cotegipe, Wenceslau Braz e São Francisco constituíam a frota que, durante décadas, navegaram e simbolizaram a navegação no São Francisco, marcando importante ciclo na vida da região.
atualizado em 13/10/2004 18.52
Ship type River cruises Vapor Benjamin Guimaraes was built in 1913 in Mississippi, USA. She is the only boat in the world that still sails according to its original design despite having been entirely rebuilt. She is currently fueled by reforested wood and sails at a leisurely 17 km/h just like in the old times. This vessel can accommodate 24 passengers in 12 bunk-bed cabins, each with a wall ventilator and sink. Observation decks, a living room, bar and restaurant can be found on board.
Embarkation
Pirapora-Barra do Guaicui-Ibiaí-Cach. do Manteiga-Sao Romao-Ibiaí-Pirapora
Day 1: Belo Horizonte/Pirapora
-At 10h00am, leave Belo Horizonte from Confins International Airport -At 12h00pm, lunch at the restaurant 'LEITE AO PE DA VACA' -At 17h00pm, arrive at Pirapora -Check-in on board with welcome reception and basic tour information provided as well as cabin's distribution -At 18h00pm, dinner -Presentation in full dress by crew
Day 2: Pirapora/Barra do Guaicui/Ibiaí
-At 8h00am, breakfast onboard. Later take a city tour on Pirapora, North of the State of Minas Gerais where important industrialization lies. The current population of the city is approximately 52,000. -Visit the bridge Marechal Hermes with 694 M length, opened in 1922. This metallic bridge is entirely built in Belgium. -Visit the Diniz Dumont Family Foundation, with its embroideries that have already illustrated books from Ziraldo, Jorge Amado and CD cover from Maria Bethania. -Visit Carranqueiro Association where the local artisans entail the scary images that are considered protectors against 'Bad spirits' from boats in the Sao Francisco River. -Opportunity to purchase the famous Baru Bonbons (Castanha Do Serrado). Then return to the boat. -At 10h30, depart -At12h00h, lunch -At1h00pm, arrive at Barra do Guaicui at the crossing of Rio Das Velhas with Sao Francisco, one of the most magnificent spots of the trip and the ruins of the stone church unfinished by slaves from the 17th century (Bom Jesus De Matozizinhos church) which currently has a huge fig tree growing over it. - Visit a rich collection of sacred arts. It was in Guaicui that Riobaldo declared his love for Diadorim (Novel The Devil To Pay In The Backlands by Joao Guimaraes Rosa, launched in 1956). Later, return to the steamboat. - At 2h00pm, depart - At 7h00pm, arrive at Ibiaí. The steamboat will be entered in the port all night. Ibiaí has a current population of 7,000. The city has a peaceful beach that only appears in the dry season (April to October). It has a pleasant square with popular bars in its surroundings. - Dinner at the Steamboat. The passengers can get off the boat at anytime to visit the city by themselves.
Day 3: Ibiaí/Cachoeira Do Manteiga/Sao Romao
-Breakfast onboard -At 8h00am, depart -At 12h00pm, arrive at the village of Cachoeira Do Manteida, District of Buritizeiro. There are about 3,000 populations. The passengers are free to get off the boat to visit the village. -At 2h30pm, depart. Later, arrive at Sao Romao at 5h30pm. -Visit Sao Romao by a microbus. Sao Romao was founded under the name of Santo Antonio Da Manga in 1668. Its first inhabitants were the Caiapos Indians. It staged violent battles between outlaws from Brazil and Portugal. Its glorious period was in the 19th century, acting as a port to move the gold and as a coin minting location. -Visit the church of Nossa Senhora Do Rosario. The church was built in 1880, yet fully restored. It is one of the first buildings of the city and the public jail. Then return to the streamboat. -At 18h00pm, dinner
Day 4: Sao Romao/Ibiaí
-At 7h00am, depart Sao Romao -8h00pm,arrive in Ibiaí. We embark on a small boat and make a tour around the steamboat -Late at night, the passengers can get off anytime to visit Ibiaí
Day 5: Ibiaí/Pirapora
-At 7h00am, depart Ibiaí -At 8h00pm, arrive in Pirapora. During the day, a lecturer present guests with the information; steamboats of Sao Francisco river and their stories, Sao Francisco river and its important, the Polemic transportation of the river and other related topics. -Dinner. The commander and his crew have dinner with the passengers as a farewell party.
Day 6: Pirapora/Belo Horizonte
-Breakfast on board -At 9h00am, land and return to Belo Horizonte -At 12h00pm, Lunch at 'LEITE AO PE DA VACA' restaurant -At 17h00pm, arrive at Confins International Airport