Did you know …

Green Facts

The Bateau-Mouche of the Old Port of Montréal contributed, in its own way, to reducing its ecological footprint:

• Its four engines use biodiesel
• The average consumption, per passenger, is 1.25 litres of biodiesel
• Engine noise has been reduced by 33% thanks to the 2009 installation of mufflers
• It complies with Environment Canada’s new pollution prevention regulations
• It participates actively in the management of residual waste, in collaboration with the Piers of the Old Port of Montréal
• It does not use plastic glasses, plates or utensils
• It uses “green” maintenance and cleaning products as well as phosphate-free soap
• It practices recycling and selective sorting on the piers as well as in its offices on Saint-Paul Street
• As of the 2010 season, the vessel’s crew wears polo sweaters of organic cotton
• It works in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, a member of the Fairmont chain renowned the world over for its leadership in the area of ecology. www.fairmont.com
• In developing menus for dinner cruises, Executive Chef Alain Pignard of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth favours the use of local and regional products
• Our Chef uses only sustainable fishing products recommended by the Quebec Aquarium

The Bateau-Mouche in numbers

• Overall length: 32,24 m
• Width: 6,55 m
• Draught: 0,67 m
• Traverse: 50 tonnes
• Construction: aluminium
• Certification : 215 passagers

The Bateau-Mouche was born out of our conviction that navigation is a pleasure in itself, and by our wish to share this pleasure. Built here, in the Old Port of Montreal, the Bateau-Mouche was inaugurated during the city's 350th anniversary in 1992.

Its first season in operation barely over, it was awarded the Tourism Grand Prix from the l'Office des Congrès et du Tourisme du Grand Montréal in the "Tourist Innovation" category.

In 1994, Bateau-Mouche was awarded the silver medal in the recognition program "Les PME de la Banque Nationale"

Two years later, in view of our success, we had to expand! In its redesigned version and custom-built, the boat is 32 m in length. Equipped by an upper deck and an exterior terrace deck, it offers maximum comfort to its guests, for the pure pleasure of navigation... structure & plans .

Thanks to its slight draught of barely 60 cm (24 inches), the Bateau-Mouche has "devised" exclusive paths, some of which are in waters inaccessible to other boats …

The Bateau-Mouche is propelled by three motors of 300 horse power each.

Each motor operates a water turbine (like the jet skis) which pumps 34,500 litres of water each minute.

Since 1992, the Bateau-Mouche has welcomed close to one million visitors. We have served approximately 325,000 evening meals during the now famous dinner cruises.

There are large numbers of people who know that we are taking the boat for the pleasure of navigating more than the pleasure of reaching the destination.

The Bateau-Mouche, of course…

The Bateau-Mouche in the Old Port of Montreal is an independent corporation having its home port in Montreal. The company belongs to two Quebecers who participated in the conception and building the Bateau-Mouche.

Where does the "Bateau-Mouche" name come from? In 1863, five boats, built in the Félizate shipyard, which is in the "La Mouche" quarter, a suburb of Lyon, were the original "bateau-mouche" boats, their name given for this particular type of excursion boat.