Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman


The Compagnie générale de navigation sur le Lac Léman or Lake Geneva General Navigation Company 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

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.

Current fleet

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.
VesselTypeLengthPowerPassenger capacity
La SuissePaddle steamer19101200
SimplonPaddle steamer19201200
MontreuxPaddle steamer1904800
SavoiePaddle steamer1914800
RhonePaddle steamer1927825
HelvétieDiesel electric paddle wheel19261400
VeveyDiesel electric paddle wheel1907750
ItalieDiesel electric paddle wheel1908800
LausanneDiesel19912 × 1500
Henry-DunantDiesel19632 × 700
Général-GuisanDiesel19642 × 700
ChablaisDiesel19742 × 560
Ville-de-GenèveDiesel19782 × 560
LémanDiesel19902 × 850
ValaisDiesel20082 × 200
Morges
Lavaux		Diesel20062 × 200
Coppet
Genève		Hydrojet20072 × 120
Col-VertDiesel powered1960130