The motoscafo is a Venetian public waterbus (more slender and faster than a normal vaporetto) which is dedicated to scheduled services along the circumnavigation routes of the historic centre of Venice.
The first motoscafi were introduced in 1933 when with the opening of the Rio Nuovo it became necessary to introduce boats smaller than vaporettos, having the capacity to operate along narrower canals and under low bridges. Eight vessels were ordered from C.N.O.M., Venice.
The first vessels had open front and no cabin protection for the crew. Later models provided an enclosed front for passengers and a driving cabin for the crew. Despite these modest improvements the general design and capacity has remained fairly consistent.
The motoscafi are operated by (ACTV), the Venetian public transport system. Typically they are deployed on routes 3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, and 6.