Numéro : 2522 - Year : 2008
The maintenance of the fleets of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation (Lausanne / Switzerland)
Eric SORET, Directeur technique - Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le Lac Léman - Lausanne (Suisse)
The inland navigation in Switzerland is essentially lacustrian. This activity has given way to the constitution of many companies of various sizes. This ancient navigation skill is at present in practice for more than 150 boats. Its development has arisen from a tourist tradition initiated in the XIXth century and is also due to the presence in Switzerland of two very important constructors of steam machines, Sulzer Frères, in Winterthur and Escher Wyss, in Zurich. Created in 1873, the Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) is, by its turnover, the second Swiss navigation company after the Compagnie du Lac des 4 Cantons based in Luzern. The CGN was very active before the first World War, at the time when royal tourists of the whole world used to come on holiday in the Lac Léman region. The Lac Léman is one of the largest European lakes (580 km2) surrounded by two countries of the same language and of increasing economic interests. The bordering population amounts to 1,2 million inhabitants and shows the highest growth rate of Switzerland. The crossings of the borders are permanently increasing, over passing 100.000 passengers per day. However, the CGN does not even take over a tenth of them. After its first century of existence, the CGN was seen as equipped with an elderly fleet, great historical boats as well as an important lack of small boats. Consequently the CGN had to be reorganized since 2001 in view of developing itself in favour of its two main activities: 1) a tourist, traditional aim to show the biggest world fleet of eight "Belle Epoque" boats as to the number of passengers, 2) a "public transport" route ensuring a quick and comfortable journey from one side to the other of the Lac Léman.
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