advantages of two different worlds.
The whole project started 18 years ago, when the owner of an amphibian bus, Fred Franken, he saw something similar in Singapore and wanted to bring it to the German… coast.
However, due to the strict legislation, it took time to get permission, after the German COKE does not provide for amphibious vehicles. But in the end, there was a positive response.
Maintenance is the biggest challenge in a watertight vehicle. “It takes a very high level of technical knowledge in order to get quickly to any parts in need of repair,” says Mike Vannauer, local sales manager of MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland GmbH.
After settling the main concerns, was allowed in the Hafencity Riverbus to take passengers for a tour of the harbour, Elbe in Hamburg. The first two months of operation of the amphibious bus, were cut over 6,000 tickets!
The amphibious tour bus may eventually be adopted by other cities (e.x. Copenhagen, Stockholm and Venice) after officials monitor the developments in the port of Hamburg and have already taken orders for another five to seven similar vehicles.
The Hafencity Riverbus can even watch the marinetraffic.com as it is a boat. There it says that it has a length of 13 m, width 3 m, draught 1.4 m, a maximum speed of 6 knots and flag of Bulgaria!
Source
Amphibious bus tour of the port of Hamburg [video]
—