The first voyage of the Budapest: A groundbreaking Hungarian river-sea ship

Exactly 90 years ago, on 6 October 1934, a remarkable ship set sail from Budapest with the goal of reaching Alexandria, Egypt. This was no small riverboat, but a full-fledged sea-faring cargo ship carrying 50 railcars’ worth of goods—nearly 500 tons. The vessel, named Budapest and operated by the Hungarian River and Sea Shipping Company (MFTR), was part of a pioneering endeavor: launching river-sea navigation on the Danube.

Designing ships for rivers and oceans requires vastly different approaches. While ocean-going vessels must withstand massive waves and storms, river ships must navigate sandbanks and shallow waters. Seagoing vessels have deeper drafts, whereas their river counterparts must adapt to bridge heights and port infrastructure, reports PestBuda.

Hungarian engineers rose to the challenge by designing a ship capable of operating efficiently in both environments. The Budapest, measuring 56.2 meters long and 8.5 meters wide, met the requirements for both river and sea navigation. The ship was powered by Ganz–Jendrassik diesel engines, which drove generators for its electric propulsion system, allowing for significant space savings.

The maiden voyage and departure

Before setting off, the Budapest underwent a test voyage to Szob to ensure its systems functioned properly under full cargo load. A contemporary report from Budapesti Hírlap described the event:

“Before its departure, the Budapest completed a test voyage fully loaded. We accompanied the river-sea ship on its trial journey to Szob—an innovation not just for Hungary, but for the world.”

The ship’s captain was Ferenc Kádár, with László Korbuly serving as first officer. The crew was young and determined to successfully complete this historic journey.

The route and cargo

On its maiden voyage, the Budapest made port calls in Istanbul, Jaffa, Beirut, and finally Alexandria. The cargo it carried was highly practical—including items such as bathtubs, which could be transported without additional packaging, significantly reducing shipping costs.

Calculations indicated that direct Danube-sea shipments could lower transportation costs by as much as 50-70% compared to traditional rail-and-sea or combined transport methods. Thanks to this success, other ships soon followed in the Budapest’s wake.

A lasting legacy

The Budapest arrived in Alexandria on 4 November 1934, where it unloaded its cargo and picked up new goods for the return trip. Following this successful experimental voyage, other Hungarian shipping companies entered the river-sea trade, such as Neptun Shipping Co., which introduced the Duna, a ship originally built in France but later repurposed for Hungarian use.

The Budapest continued serving Hungary’s river and sea transport needs until 1962, when it was decommissioned and used as a storage vessel for a time. It was ultimately scrapped in 1988.

The significance of Hungarian river-sea shipping

While river-sea shipping was not a Hungarian invention, the expertise of local engineers and shipbuilders helped transform Budapest and the Danube into a true maritime gateway. The Budapest’s innovative first voyage was not only a technological breakthrough but also opened up new economic opportunities for Hungary, enabling local goods to compete more effectively in Mediterranean markets.

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