Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman
 | |
 The Genève, launched in 1896 for the national exhibition | |
| Company type | S.A. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Headquarters | Lausanne, Switzerland |
Area served | Lake Geneva |
| Website | {{URL|example.com|optional display text}} |
The Compagnie générale de navigation sur le Lac Léman, also known as the Lake Geneva General Navigation Company (CGN), is a Swiss public enterprise operating passenger vessels on Lake Geneva. It links prominent towns across France and Switzerland, including Geneva, Vevey, Montreux, Évian-les-Bains, and Lausanne.
History
Established in 1873 by merging three separate firms, CGN combined ships such as 'Helvétie', 'Léman', 'Aigle', and later 'Flèche' into a single fleet. The company’s approach leveraged the expansion of tourism and railway networks during the late 19th century, catering to both holidaymakers and everyday passengers.
Operations were heavily impacted by both World War I and World War II, with a complete suspension in 1940 and government intervention in 1943 to maintain stability. After the war, CGN upgraded its vessels by transitioning from steam to diesel engines and introduced new ships from the 1960s onward, strengthening its position in regional transportation.
Current fleet
Registered in Switzerland, CGN’s ships display the Swiss flag at the stern and the French Tricolour at the bow, reflecting the lake’s international boundaries. The fleet features historic paddle steamers alongside contemporary diesel-powered vessels, blending tradition with modern efficiency.
| Vessel | Type | Year | Length | Power | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Suisse | Paddle steamer | 1910 | 78.5 m (258 ft) | 1,030 kW (1,380 hp) | 1200 |
| Simplon | Paddle steamer | 1920 | 78.5 m (258 ft) | 1,030 kW (1,380 hp) | 1200 |
| Montreux | Paddle steamer | 1904 | 68.3 m (224 ft) | 650 kW (870 hp) | 800 |
| Savoie | Paddle steamer | 1914 | 68.0 m (223.1 ft) | 660 kW (890 hp) | 800 |
| Rhône | Paddle steamer | 1927 | 68.0 m (223.1 ft) | 625 kW (838 hp) | 825 |
| Vessel | Type | Year | Length | Power | Passenger capacity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Helvétie (Diesel electric paddle wheel) | 1926 | 78.5 m | – | - | Vevey (Diesel electric paddle wheel) | 1907 | 66 m | 515 kW | - | Italie (Diesel electric paddle wheel) | 1908 | 65.5 m | 515 kW | - | Lausanne (Diesel) | 1991 | 78.8 m | 2 × 870 kW | - | Henry-Dunant (Diesel) | 1963 | 50.2 m | 2 × 365 kW | - | Général-Guisan (Diesel) | 1964 | 50.2 m | 2 × 365 kW | - | Chablais (Diesel) | 1974 | 46.1 m | 2 × 325 kW | - | Ville-de-Genève (Diesel) | 1978 | 47.2 m | 2 × 400 kW | - | Léman (Diesel) | 1990 | 49.6 m | 2 ×520 kW | - | Valais (Diesel) | 2008 | 30.8 m | 2 ×720 kW | - | Morges Lavaux (Diesel) | 2006 | 30.8 m | 2 ×720 kW | - | Coppet Genève (Hydrojet) | 2007 | 24.8 m | 2 ×1045 kW | - | Col-Vert (Diesel powered) | 1960 | 28.3 m | 294 kW | }
See alsoReferencesExternal links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Compagnie générale de navigation sur le Lac Léman. Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 359: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').
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