Transbordadora Austral Broom S.A.

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The Transbordadora Austral Broom S.A. owned Melinka ferry at Porvenir port

Transbordadora Austral Broom S.A is a Chile water transportation company.

It has been navigating across the Strait of Magellan, fjords and channels of Patagonia since 1968, connecting the Continent to Tierra del Fuego, Navarino Island, and Cape Horn and the southern glaciers around north-western Antarctica.

The company owns and operates the Melinka ferry which operates in the Porvenir area daily.

[edit] Crossing Service at Primera Angostura

Due to the increasing demand for connecting Patagonia Chile-Argentina in Tierra del Fuego to the continent, Transbordadora Austral Broom established a maritime transporting service, in 1968, at the east inlet of the Strait of Magellan. This is the narrowest part of the Strait that connects the island to the continent known as Primera Angostura.

At present, there are two ferries connecting Punta Delgada, in the continent to and from Bahía Azul, in Tierra del Fuego. The Punta Delgada terminal is located 170 km. north of Punta Arenas.

[edit] Crossing Service at Porvenir

Since 1984, Transbordadora Austral Broom has had a daily crossing between Tres Puentes terminal, located 5 km north of Punta Arenas city center and Bahía Chilota terminal, located 5 km far from Porvenir. Porvenir is the capital of Tierra del Fuego (Chilean side). It is located to the west of Tierra del Fuego and southeast of Punta Arenas, 20 miles far from the continent and separated by the Strait of Magellan.

This service is provided by the landing craft Melinka which can transport 230 passengers and has a deck for approximately 23 vehicles. It also has a coffee service for passengers.

The company also owns the Pionero ferry.