the transition of water carriers operating in and around guanabara bay over the last century and a half has been a tug of war between private companies and state owned ferry services. the first recorded public transport was set up in 1853 by companhia de navegaçăo de nichteroy, a private company that possessed three vessels, running passengers between rio de janeiro and niterói on a regular basis. companhia de navegaçăo de nichteroy enjoyed nine years of successful service before being replaced by the larger ferry carrier in 1862 - however, only seven years later companhia cantareira e viaçăo fluminense took charge of the waterways.
