Operational Challenges and Potential Environmental Impacts of High-Speed Vessels in the Brazilian Amazon

In the Amazon basin, there are few terrestrial communication routes between cities, so river transport is often the only viable alternative for people and cargo. Although high-speed vessels are common in the region, they face operational challenges that endanger crews and passengers. Moreover, their use can impact the environment in various ways. This paper discusses operational difficulties related to the use of high-speed vessels in the Brazilian Amazon, and details possible environmental impacts, based on literature reviews and photographic information from field surveys in the state of Amazonas. The main operational challenges include interacting with complex flows, the possibility of colliding with fixed and moving objects, and the limitation of navigation routes. The main environmental impacts were classified as related to vessel motion, the propulsion system, and waste disposal. There is a need for increased innovation and research into marine applications and sustainability topics. Technical information must be disseminated more widely, including to remote regions. If the region’s sustainability is to be improved, riverine infrastructure must be enhanced and new technologies adopted.