Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman

Compagnie générale de navigation sur le Lac Léman
Company typeS.A.
IndustryTransport
Founded1873; 151 years ago (1873)
HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
Area served
Lake Geneva
Websitewww.cgn.ch/fr/ Edit this at Wikidata

The Compagnie générale de navigation sur le Lac Léman or Lake Geneva General Navigation Company (commonly abbreviated to CGN) is a public Swiss company operating ships on Lake Geneva connecting towns in both France and Switzerland including Geneva, Vevey, Montreux, Évian-les-Bains, and Lausanne.

History

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The CGN was formed in 1873 through the merger between three companies, bringing together the vessels 'Helvétie', 'Léman', 'Aigle' and later the 'Flèche' in a single fleet. The growth of tourism corresponded with the construction of railways during the second half of the 19th century, leading the CGN to cater for tourists as well as local traffic.

The cessation of tourism during World War I severely affected the CGN. Similarly affected during World War II, the company had to cease all operations for three months during 1940. The company was rescued by state intervention in 1943.

After the war the fleet was updated, with some steamships converted to diesel and from the 1960s augmented with new vessels.[1]

Current fleet

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Savoie leaving Montreux
Vevey

As a Swiss registered company, the ships fly the Swiss flag at the stern but, as the southern shore of the lake is mainly French territory, they also fly the Tricolour from the jackstaff at the bow.[1]

Vessel Type Year Length Power Passenger capacity
La Suisse [fr; de; it] Paddle steamer 1910 78.5 m (258 ft) 1,030 kW (1,380 hp) 1200
Simplon [fr; de] Paddle steamer 1920 78.5 m (258 ft) 1,030 kW (1,380 hp) 1200
Montreux [fr; de; it] Paddle steamer 1904 68.3 m (224 ft) 650 kW (870 hp) 800
Savoie [fr; de; it] Paddle steamer 1914 68 m (223 ft) 660 kW (890 hp) 800
Rhône [fr; de; frp] Paddle steamer 1927 68 m (223 ft) 625 kW (838 hp) 825
Helvétie [fr; de] Diesel electric paddle wheel 1926 78.5 m (258 ft) 1400
Vevey [fr; de] Diesel electric paddle wheel 1907 66 m (217 ft) 515 kW (691 hp) 750
Italie [fr; de] Diesel electric paddle wheel 1908 65.5 m (215 ft) 515 kW (691 hp) 800
Lausanne Diesel 1991 78.8 m (259 ft) 2 × 870 kW (1,170 hp) 1500
Henry-Dunant Diesel 1963 50.2 m (165 ft) 2 × 365 kW (489 hp) 700
Général-Guisan Diesel 1964 50.2 m (165 ft) 2 × 365 kW (489 hp) 700
Chablais Diesel 1974 46.1 m (151 ft) 2 × 325 kW (436 hp) 560
Ville-de-Genève Diesel 1978 47.2 m (155 ft) 2 × 400 kW (540 hp) 560
Léman Diesel 1990 49.6 m (163 ft) 2 × 520 kW (700 hp) 850
Valais Diesel 2008 30.8 m (101 ft) 2 × 720 kW (970 hp) 200
Morges
Lavaux 		Diesel 2006 30.8 m (101 ft) 2 × 720 kW (970 hp) 200
Coppet
Genève 		Hydrojet 2007 24.8 m (81 ft) 2 × 1,045 kW (1,401 hp) 120
Col-Vert Diesel powered 1960 28.3 m (93 ft) 294 kW (394 hp) 130

References

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  1. ^ a b Brown, Leslie; McKendrick, Joe (1994). Paddle Steamers of the Alps. Warsash: Warsash Nautical Books. p. 6. ISBN 1-871947-19-7.
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