Vorarlberg Lines

Vorarlberg Lines-Bodenseeschifffahrt (VLB), trading as Vorarlberg Lines, is an Austrian shipping company on Lake Constance (Bodensee) with its home port in Bregenz. It operates scheduled passenger services as well as excursion, event and charter cruises on the Obersee, the main basin of Lake Constance. The company was created in 2006 when the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) outsourced their Lake Constance shipping operations. It is one of four members of the Vereinigte Schifffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und Rhein, an association that coordinates timetables and fares for Lake Constance shipping. The company describes itself as an independent, private-sector Austrian shipping enterprise based in Bregenz. As a member of the Vereinigte Schifffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und den Rhein, it handles scheduled services along the German shore of Lake Constance. Beyond scheduled routes, its business areas include excursion traffic, event shipping and charter. It states that it pursues quality, transparency, environmental awareness and the maintenance of tradition, and that it continuously develops its services and expands its offering and partnerships. Vorarlberg Lines operates a fleet that includes the MS Austria and MS Vorarlberg on scheduled services, the MS Montafon mainly for round trips, the smaller Stadt Bregenz and Alpenstadt Bludenz primarily for charter, and the MS Sonnenkönigin, described as the largest ship on Lake Constance, for the premium segment. Its scheduled network includes the route Bregenz–Lindau–Meersburg–Insel Mainau–Konstanz and an express connection from Bregenz to Lindau and onward to Meersburg, Insel Mainau, Uhldingen, Dingelsdorf and Überlingen, plus round trips from Bregenz. The company's event programme includes themed cruises such as the Oktoberfest ship, Captain's Brunch, Kässpätzle evenings, Törggele evenings, crime-dinner cruises, full-moon revival nights, Christmas and New Year's gala cruises, and fireworks cruises. Tickets, gift vouchers, season cards and SeePass products are sold by telephone, email and at the sales point "Welle" at Bregenz harbour. The company is headquartered at Seestraße 4, 6900 Bregenz, and employs around 30 people, carrying an average of about 550,000 passengers per year according to its German Wikipedia entry. Ownership has changed several times. At the end of 2005, the Vorarlberger Illwerke (74.9%) and the Vorarlberg construction and tourism entrepreneur Walter Klaus (25.1%) bought ÖBB's Lake Constance shipping operation for EUR 6.92 million. In 2009 Werner Netzer took over the Walter Klaus Group; in 2015 the Illwerke sold their stake to Netzer, making him sole owner. In 2023 managing director Alexandro Rupp acquired all shares and became sole owner of Vorarlberg Lines.

Vorarlberg Lines-Bodenseeschifffahrt (VLB) was created in 2006 when the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) outsourced their shipping operations on Lake Constance. At the end of 2005, the Vorarlberger Illwerke (74.9%) and the Vorarlberg construction and tourism entrepreneur Walter Klaus (25.1%) bought ÖBB's Lake Constance shipping operation for EUR 6.92 million. A year later, Klaus acquired a minority stake in the Swiss Lake Constance Shipping Company (Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt). In 2008 Walter Klaus commissioned the MS Sonnenkönigin, one of the largest passenger ships on Central European inland waters. However, the ship's commercial success fell far short of expectations and it never operated profitably. In 2009 Werner Netzer took over the Walter Klaus Group. In 2015 the Illwerke sold their stake to Netzer, making him the sole owner of Vorarlberg Lines. Special rights agreed at the time of the 2005 purchase, such as rights regarding the naming of ships or a pre-emption right, remained with the Illwerke. In 2023 managing director Alexandro Rupp acquired all shares in the company and became sole owner of Vorarlberg Lines. According to its German Wikipedia entry, the company employs around 30 people and carries an average of about 550,000 passengers per year. It is one of four members of the Vereinigte Schifffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und Rhein, which coordinates timetables and fares for Lake Constance shipping. The company's own website describes it as an independent, private-sector Austrian shipping enterprise based in Bregenz, handling scheduled services along the German shore of Lake Constance as a member of the association, and pursuing quality, transparency, environmental awareness and tradition across its business areas of scheduled services, excursion traffic, event shipping and charter.

• 2023

  Managing director Alexandro Rupp acquires all shares and becomes sole owner.

• 2015

  Illwerke sells its stake to Netzer, making him sole owner of Vorarlberg Lines.

• 2009

  Werner Netzer takes over the Walter Klaus Group.

• 2008

  MS Sonnenkönigin, one of the largest passenger ships on Central European inland waters, enters service.

• 2006

  Vorarlberg Lines-Bodenseeschifffahrt is created as ÖBB outsources its Lake Constance shipping operations.

• 2006

  Walter Klaus acquires a minority stake in the Swiss Lake Constance Shipping Company.

• 2005

  Vorarlberger Illwerke (74.9%) and Walter Klaus (25.1%) buy ÖBB's Lake Constance shipping operation for EUR 6.92 million.

Independent private Austrian shipping company on Lake Constance, combining scheduled ferry services with excursion, event and premium cruise offerings.

• Scheduled cruise Bregenz–Lindau–Meersburg–Insel Mainau–Konstanz

• Express connection Bregenz–Lindau–Meersburg–Insel Mainau–Uhldingen–Dingelsdorf–Überlingen

• Round trips from Bregenz

• MS Sonnenkönigin premium cruises

• Gift vouchers

• Season card and SeePass

1. 1Vorarlberg Lines Bodenseeschifffahrt | Vorarlberg Linesvorarlberg-lines.at
2. 2Über uns | Vorarlberg Linesvorarlberg-lines.at
3. 3Gutscheine | Vorarlberg Linesvorarlberg-lines.at
4. 4Vorarlberg Lineswikidata.org
5. 5Vorarlberg Lines-Bodenseeschifffahrtde.wikipedia.org