Port of Switzerland

What Port of Switzerland does

Port of Switzerland (Schweizerische Rheinhäfen) is the unified Swiss port authority founded in 2008, operating the country's only three Rhine ports with direct sea access: Basel-Kleinhüningen, Birsfelden, and Muttenz-Au. As a public state entity under Swiss jurisdiction, it serves as both the regulatory authority for Rhine navigation and the infrastructure manager for Switzerland's exclusive inland waterway gateway on the Rotterdam-Genua corridor. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of port services including pilot (Lotsendienst) and tugboat (Schlepp- und Schubbootdienstleistungen) operations, ship registration and patent examinations via the Schifffahrtsschalter shipping counter in Birsfelden, 24/7 Rhine traffic management through the Revierzentrale, water level monitoring (Pegel), small boat harbor operations, and shipping police supervision with vessels including the multi-purpose boat ALLEGRA.

The technology stack centers on the RPIS (RhinePorts Information System) digital traffic management platform, jointly developed with RhinePorts GmbH across the nine-port Upper Rhine network, enabling electronic ship registration, AIS real-time tracking, and paperless customs for container terminals. In May 2026 the organization joined the EuRIS (European River Information System) via the ECMA, integrating Swiss Rhine data into a 29,500+ km European waterway information network. Other platforms include the Binnenschifffahrtssimulator (Inland Waterway Simulator) for navigation training and the Inland ENC Hochrhein electronic navigation charts. Core customers are approximately 80 port companies leasing space across the three sites, alongside commercial cargo and passenger cruise operators. Revenue is generated through port dues (Hafenabgaben), recurring construction lease rent (Baurechtszinsen), passenger/cabin cruise terminal fees, and the Hafenbahn Schweiz AG rail subsidiary. Public-facing channels include the Hafenmuseum, port tours, the June 2026 Verkehrshaus exhibition, and ongoing major infrastructure projects including Gateway Basel Nord (Hafenbecken 3).

Name

Port of Switzerland

Legal name

Port of Switzerland

Website

https://port-of-switzerland.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Port of Switzerland (Schweizerische Rheinhäfen) operates the country's only three Rhine ports with direct sea access (Basel-Kleinhüningen, Birsfelden, Muttenz-Au), serving as public port authority, Rhine navigation regulator, and infrastructure manager for approximately 80 port companies and inland shipping operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inland Port Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Marine Cargo Handling (48832)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Terminal & Shipyard Towage (Intra-Port/Facility Moves) (TLAHAHAI), Ferry Terminal, Port & Passenger Handling Services (THAEAGAJ), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE)

Keywords

• Inland port services
• River navigation services
• Multimodal freight logistics
• Port infrastructure management
• Maritime regulatory authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Schweizerhalle

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hafenabgaben (Port Dues and Charges): Fees charged for vessel berthing, use of port infrastructure, and navigation services. Revenue from port dues remained stable in 2025.
2. Baurechtszinsen (Construction Lease Rent): Income from land and facility leases to approximately 80 port companies operating at the three Swiss Rhine port sites. Revenue from construction lease rent remained stable in 2025.
3. Fahrgast- und Kabinenschifffahrt (Passenger and Cabin Cruise): Revenue from passenger and cabin cruise ship operations at Basel, including terminal facilities at St. Johann. Revenue declined by approximately 530 TCHF in 2025 compared to 2024.
4. Hafenbahn Schweiz AG (Port Railway Services): Rail infrastructure and port railway operations providing freight rail connections within and from the port areas. Operated by subsidiary Hafenbahn Schweiz AG.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Port of Switzerland operates the three Swiss Rhine ports (Basel-Kleinhüningen, Birsfelden, Muttenz-Au) and provides shipping services including pilot and tug operations, waste collection, ship inspections and Inland ENC charts, an administrative shipping counter for permits and registration, cabin cruise mooring facilities, a small boat marina, a 24/7 area control center, emergency response, port police supervision, and port railway services through its subsidiary Hafenbahn Schweiz AG. It also runs the RPIS digital platform for electronic ship registration and traffic management across the Upper Rhine.

Product overview

Port of Switzerland (Schweizerische Rheinhäfen) operates as the unified Swiss Rhine ports authority managing three interconnected port locations: Basel-Kleinhüningen, Birsfelden, and Muttenz-Au. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of port services organized around a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include shipping operations (Schifffahrtsservice) with pilot, tugboat, and waste collection services; administrative services via the Schifffahrtsschalter; passenger cabin cruising facilities; water level monitoring (Pegel); small boat harbor; and shipping police supervision. Key digital platforms include the RPIS (RheinPorts Information System) for traffic management and electronic ship registration across Upper Rhine ports. Infrastructure services encompass the Hafenbahn Schweiz AG rail network, Gateway Basel Nord terminal development (including Hafenbecken 3), and various urban development projects. The organization also operates the Binnenschifffahrtssimulator for training and maintains the Port Museum for public education. Supporting services include emergency response, port tours, and regulatory compliance for Rhine navigation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Port of Switzerland: English commercial brand name for Schweizerische Rheinhäfen used in international communications
• EuRIS Partnership
• RH2INE Initiative

Products and services

• Schifffahrtsservice (Shipping Services) Comprehensive shipping services for commercial and passenger vessel operators on the Swiss Rhine, including pilot service (Lotsendienst), tugboat and push boat services (Schlepp- und Schubbootdienstleistungen), BIBO REGIO waste collection under the CDNI convention, ship inspections (Schiffseichungen), and Inland ENC Hochrhein electronic navigation charts for the Upper Rhine.
• Schifffahrtsschalter (Shipping Counter) Administrative services for ship operators including forms, permits (Bewilligungen), ship registration (Schiffsregistrierung), patent examinations (Patentprüfungen), expert commissions (Fachkommissionen), port fees (Gebühren & Hafenabgaben), and access to the Schifffahrtssimulator for training and examination.
• Kabinenschifffahrt (Cabin Cruising Services) Passenger and cabin ship services with steiger locations (Steigerstandorte) and mooring plan management for tourist and cruise vessel operations on the Rhine, including terminal facilities at St. Johann.
• Kleinboothafen Basel (Small Boat Harbor) Marina facilities for small boats in Basel with managed berths and related services for private and small commercial vessel operators.
• RPIS - RheinPorts Information System Digital port community platform for Upper Rhine ports that enables electronic ship registration for container transport, paperless customs traffic, AIS real-time tracking, and connection of container terminals across Basel, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Weil am Rhein, Mulhouse, and other Oberrheinhäfen.
• Hafenbahn Schweiz AG (Port Railway Services) Port railway infrastructure connecting the three Swiss Rhine ports (Basel, Birsfelden, Muttenz) with the national rail network, providing rail access conditions, capacity allocation, and comprehensive rail services for freight handling, operated by wholly owned subsidiary Hafenbahn Schweiz AG.
• Notfalldienst (Emergency Service) 24/7 emergency response service for shipping incidents and urgent port-related emergencies on the Swiss Rhine, supporting vessel operators in case of accidents, spills, or other waterway incidents.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Swiss Rhine ports handle large quantities of grain, mineral oil products, and containers, making them indispensable for Switzerland's supply security.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EuRIS (European River Information Services) – 13 European CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Swiss Rhine Ports officially joined EuRIS by signing the European Corridor Management Agreement (ECMA), becoming a partner in the European waterway information portal launched in 2022 by 13 countries. EuRIS provides real-time static and dynamic information across 29,500+ km of European inland waterways. The partnership enables Swiss waterway data to be published on the EuRIS portal, strengthening Europe's inland navigation network.
• Port of Rotterdam (Hafen von Rotterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2026The Swiss Rhine Ports (SRH) and Port of Rotterdam renewed their Memorandum of Understanding for strategic cooperation in hinterland transport. The partnership covers four core areas: joint advocacy for the Rhine corridor in Dutch and Swiss transport policy; promotion of renewable energy systems in inland shipping (including RH2INE initiative for hydrogen infrastructure); standardization of data flows between inland and seaports (supporting Port Community System integration of RPIS and Portbase); and cooperation on carbon capture utilization and storage (CCU/CCS) technologies along the Rhine-Alpine corridor.
• RhinePorts GmbH (Basel-Mulhouse-Weil am Rhein)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital cooperation entity for Upper Rhine ports, jointly developing and operating the RPIS (RhinePorts Information System) platform. RhinePorts GmbH collaborates with Duisburger Hafen AG on digital expertise sharing and is part of the nine-port Upper Rhine network.
• Oberrheinhäfen (Upper Rhine Ports Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of nine Upper Rhine ports (Basel, Weil am Rhein, Mulhouse-Rhin, Neuf Brisach/Colmar, Strasbourg, Kehl, Karlsruhe, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim) cooperating on digitalization, cross-border transport, and logistics optimization. Key joint project: RPIS (RhinePorts Information System) for electronic ship registration and traffic management.
• EFIP (European Federation of Inland Ports)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort of Switzerland participates in EFIP, the European association of inland ports, which advocates for green logistics and inland waterway transport at the EU level. SRH maintains representation in the EFIP presidency.
• Hafenbahn Schweiz AGcoreOthersPort railway subsidiary operating rail infrastructure within the port areas and connecting to the Swiss national rail network (SBB). Provides rail access for freight transport, supporting the multimodal logistics chain.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Duisport (Duisburger Hafen AG): Germany's largest inland port and active RPIS technology partner. Directly comparable as a Rhine inland port operator with multimodal logistics, digital traffic management, and similar tenant/lease business model.
• Port of Strasbourg (PAS): French Upper Rhine inland port and member of the Oberrheinhäfen (Upper Rhine Ports) network alongside Port of Switzerland. Directly comparable in scale, geography, and multimodal cargo handling focus.
• Port Mulhouse-Rhin: French inland port on the Rhône–Rhine canal and Upper Rhine network partner. Directly comparable as a smaller-scale inland port operator serving regional industrial tenants with multimodal logistics.
• Hafen Karlsruhe: German Upper Rhine inland port and RPIS network partner. Comparable Rhine-inland port with combined trimodal (ship-rail-road) operations and similar tenant/lease revenue model.
• Port of Mannheim: One of Germany's largest inland ports and a member of the Upper Rhine port network. Comparable multimodal port authority on the Rhine serving industrial hinterland customers.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Rotterdam Authority: Europe's largest seaport and a strategic MoU partner of Port of Switzerland. Comparable as a Rhine-corridor port authority with hinterland-connectivity focus, though operating at much larger scale and maritime (vs. inland) orientation.
• HHLA (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG): Major European port and logistics operator listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Comparable as a publicly-traded port authority with container terminal and intermodal rail businesses, though primarily maritime.
• Port of Antwerp-Bruges: Major North-Sea seaport with significant inland-waterway hinterland connections to Rhine ports. Comparable corridor-level competitor and counterpart for inland navigation policy.
• Euroports Holdings: Pan-European multi-port operator managing inland and maritime terminals. Comparable as a portfolio operator of inland port infrastructure with similar tenant/lease and cargo-handling activities.

Others

• EFIP (European Federation of Inland Ports): Industry association in which Port of Switzerland holds a presidency role. Comparable as an advocacy and policy counterpart for the European inland-port ecosystem rather than a direct operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/portofch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqJgNM7aG9rqJ6P3x8V4T5Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchweizerischeRheinhaefen
• Instagraminstagram.com/rheinhoefen

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port of Switzerland