Merchant Marine of Switzerland
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The Merchant Marine of Switzerland is the largest merchant navy of a landlocked country.[1] Somewhat unusual for a landlocked country, Switzerland has a long tradition of civilian navigation, both on its lakes and rivers, and on the high seas.[1]
History
The Swiss merchant navy was founded in 1941, with the purpose of supplying Switzerland with basic goods during the Second World War.[1] As of 2016, its essential mission remains supplying the country with goods in times of crisis.[1]
The Rhine port of Basel connects Switzerland to the Port of Rotterdam and thus to the sea trade network. Swiss industry and commerce rely on this connection, exploited for centuries by Swiss Rhine barges, for a substantial part of their imports and exports.
Swiss high seas fleet
Switzerland has a civilian high seas fleet of
.The first ships were purchased and operated by the
In 2010, a fleet of 37 ships flew the
Shipping companies
- ABC Maritime AG
- Enzian Shipping AG
- Massoel Gestion SA
- Mega Chemicals Schiffahrt AG
- Reederei Zürich AG
- Suisse-Atlantique Société de Navigation Maritime SA
- Mediterranean Shipping Company
Notes and references
- ^ Swissinfo. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- Brückenbauer. 25 July 1952. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ Commercial ships on the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office website
- Swissinfo. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
External links
- Swiss flags at sea
- Schweizer See- & Rheinschifffahrt (German)
- Swiss Maritime Navigation Office Accessed 15 February 2011.
