Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft

Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft (BSG), also known in French as Navigation Lac de Bienne (SNLB), is a Swiss passenger shipping company based in Biel/Bienne. It operates scheduled and excursion services on Lake Biel, on the Aare river between Biel and Solothurn, and — twice daily — on Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Morat via the Thielle and Broye canals. The company traces its origins to 1887, when the steamship company Union was founded; it was renamed Bielersee-Dampfschiff-Gesellschaft in 1911, then Navigation du Lac de Bienne in 1966, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012. The fleet includes a mix of motor vessels and one solar-powered catamaran. Notable units are MS Petersinsel (1976, 700 passengers), EMS MobiCat (2001, 150 passengers, described as the world's largest solar-powered boat), MS Berna (1964, 500 passengers), MS Stadt Biel (1953, 500 passengers), MS Chasseral (1960, 350 passengers), MS Siesta (1991, 500 passengers, used on the Aare), MS Stadt Solothurn (300 passengers, Aare), MS Rousseau (2012, 300 passengers, Aare and Three-Lakes), and MS Engelberg (2018, 60 passengers). The company markets itself around the "longest waterway in Switzerland" and the Three-Lakes region, offering themed cruises such as breakfast cruises, winemaker cruises, Treberwurst (grape marc sausage) cruises, Christmas dinners, and combined boat-and-city tours (e.g., Solothurn). It also offers boat charter (e.g., MS Engelberg) and onboard catering. Its main competitor is the Société de navigation sur les lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat, with which it shares services on Lakes Neuchâtel and Morat. Reported revenue was about 6 million Swiss francs in 2016. The company is privately held and headquartered in Biel/Bienne.

The company's origins lie in the steamship company Union, founded in 1887. In 1911 the enterprise was renamed Bielersee-Dampfschiff-Gesellschaft (Compagnie des bateaux à vapeur du lac de Bienne). In 1966 it adopted the name Navigation du Lac de Bienne (Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft). The company celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012. Over the decades it expanded its fleet and routes, adding services on the Aare between Biel and Solothurn and, twice daily, on Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Morat via the Thielle and Broye canals. Its main competitor is the Société de navigation sur les lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat, with which it shares those two lakes. In 2016 reported revenue was about 6 million Swiss francs. The company remains headquartered in Biel/Bienne.

• 2018

  MS Engelberg entered service (60 passengers).

• 2016

  Reported revenue of about 6 million Swiss francs.

• 2012

  125th anniversary; MS Rousseau entered service (300 passengers).

• 2001

  EMS MobiCat entered service (150 passengers, solar-powered).

• 1991

  MS Siesta entered service (500 passengers, Aare).

• 1976

  MS Petersinsel entered service (700 passengers).

• 1966

  Renamed Navigation du Lac de Bienne (Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft).

• 1964

  MS Berna entered service (500 passengers).

• 1960

  MS Chasseral entered service (350 passengers).

• 1953

  MS Stadt Biel entered service (500 passengers).

• 1911

  Renamed Bielersee-Dampfschiff-Gesellschaft (Compagnie des bateaux à vapeur du lac de Bienne).

• 1887

  Steamship company Union founded.

Operator of the longest waterway in Switzerland, serving the Three-Lakes region with scheduled and themed passenger cruises.

• 1976

  MS Petersinsel

• 2001

  EMS MobiCat

• 1964

  MS Berna

• 1953

  MS Stadt Biel

• 1960

  MS Chasseral

• 1991

  MS Siesta

• MS Stadt Solothurn

• 2012

  MS Rousseau

• 2018

  MS Engelberg

1. 1Home - Bielersee Schifffahrtsgesellschaftbielersee.ch
2. 2Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Navigation Lac de Bienne - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org