150 years ago
The activity of the PPS begins
The first successful attempt in Prague to found a steamboat river transport company is linked to the foundation of Pražská paroplavební společnost in 1865. The idea came from Frantisek Dittrich who later also became the mayor of Prague. The PPS was created as a fully Czech owned company, and began working with a single boat, before purchasing the second one, the “Vyšehrad” the following year. The first boats were provided by the Prague ship factory “Rustonka” based in Libeň, while the last ones date back to the 1940s. One of these boats, the “Vltava” built in 1940, is still active today whereas the “Vysehrad” was in use for 90 years before being replaced. Most of the PPS boats are used for carrying passengers, and the first route inaugurated connected Střechovice to Prague. For the celebrations of the anniversary, this year there will be the presentation of a new vessel, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” made by German Derben shipyards. Currently the fleet consists of 28 boats.