Swiss Shipping Company

What Swiss Shipping Company does

Schweizerische Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Untersee und Rhein AG (URh) is a privately held Swiss passenger shipping company (Aktiengesellschaft) founded in 1864 and headquartered in Schaffhausen, operating a fleet of six vessels (MS Thurgau, MS Arenenberg, MS Munot, MS Schaffhausen, MS Stein am Rhein, MS Konstanz) on the Untersee and Rhine between Schaffhausen and Konstanz/Kreuzlingen. The company runs scheduled ferry services and themed cruises from April to October, serving 17 landing stages across Swiss and German territory, with a stated position as "the most beautiful river journey in Europe." It maintains an in-house shipyard in Langwiesen for vessel maintenance and modernization, and holds the highest-tier sustainability certifications in Swiss tourism (Good Travel Seal Level 3/Diamond and Swisstainable Level III "leading").

URh generates revenue through four primary streams: passenger ticket sales (single fares CHF 9.40–55.40, day cards capped at CHF 49.50, group rates with 30% discount for 10+ persons, and season passes), on-board catering operated by partner Die Kochpiraten GmbH (à la carte, brunch, themed culinary cruises including Switzerland's first vegan brunch ship launched March 2025), charter and event hire of all six vessels, and special themed cruises (wine tasting, art, bird observation, sunset, pirate school for children, ship-hotel overnight on MS Konstanz). Distribution is omnichannel: direct on-board sales, the e-guma online ticket shop, group reservation portal, third-party travel passes (GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Bodensee Card PLUS), and seasonal gift vouchers. Customers span individual tourists, families, cycling tourists combining RheinWelten routes, group bookers, corporate charter clients, and sustainability-conscious travelers.

The company is led by CEO (Geschäftsführer) Remo Rey, who in April 2025 was elected President of the Verband Schweizerischer Schifffahrtsunternehmen (VSSU), with Sönke Bandixen serving as Chairman of the Board (VR-Präsident). URh runs 11–50 employees, integrates HubSpot and Google Analytics for marketing analytics, and pursues a hybrid B2C/B2B go-to-market with primary emphasis on direct-to-consumer ticketing. The business model is seasonal, weather-dependent, and structurally protected by its exclusive corridor franchise but exposed to climate-driven operational disruption, as demonstrated by 2025 low-water and Quagga mussel impacts.

Name

Swiss Shipping Company

Legal name

Schweizerische Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Untersee und Rhein AG

Website

https://urh.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Swiss Shipping Company (URh) operates scheduled passenger ferries and themed cruises on the Untersee and Rhine between Schaffhausen and Konstanz/Kreuzlingen from April to October, serving individual tourists, groups, and charter clients with a fleet of six vessels and seventeen landing stages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Lake and River Shipping Services

NAICS

Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border & International Passenger Ferries (THAIAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Cross-Border Ferry Services (THAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry services
• River shipping
• Themed cruise experiences
• Vessel charter rental
• Lake transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaffhausen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales: Core revenue from scheduled ferry services between Schaffhausen and Konstanz/Kreuzlingen. Tickets sold at full price, half-fare, with day cards, season passes, and group discounts (30% for groups of 10+).
2. On-board Catering (Bordgastronomie): Food and beverage services operated by partner Die Kochpiraten GmbH. Includes à la carte dining, themed menus, brunch cruises, and special culinary events.
3. Charter and Event Hire: Private charter of six vessels for events, corporate functions, and special occasions. Also includes ship-hotel accommodation offerings.
4. Special Themed Cruises: Special themed cruises including vegan brunch, fondue cruises, art cruises, bird observation tours (Vogelschau-Fahrten), and seasonal events generate additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

URh operates scheduled passenger ferry services on the Untersee and Rhine between Schaffhausen and Konstanz/Kreuzlingen, serving 17 landing stages across Swiss and German territory from April to October with a fleet of six vessels. The company supplements scheduled services with round-trip cruises (Rundfahrten), themed experiences (vegan brunch, wine tasting, art, bird watching, sunset), private vessel charter, on-board dining through partner Die Kochpiraten, and a floating hotel suite (Schiff-Hotel MS Konstanz).

Product overview

URh operates as a Swiss lake and river shipping company offering scheduled ferry services, themed cruise experiences, and charter rentals. The core offering consists of Kursschifffahrt (scheduled passenger ferries) running between Schaffhausen and Konstanz/Kreuzlingen from April to October, supplemented by Rundfahrten (round-trip cruises) and various themed cruise sub-products including Veganes Brunch-Schiff, Wii-Schiff, Kunst-Schifffahrten, Vogelschau-Fahrt, and RheinErfahren. Additional services include Bordgastronomie (on-board dining via Die Kochpiraten), Schiff mieten (private charter), and Schiff-Hotel MS Konstanz (floating hotel accommodation). The company maintains a fleet of six vessels and an in-house shipyard in Langwiesen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kursschifffahrt (Scheduled Ship Service) Scheduled passenger ferry service operating between Schaffhausen and Konstanz/Kreuzlingen from April to October, serving 17 landing stages across the Swiss-German border region on the Untersee and Rhine. Targeted at individual tourists, families, and groups seeking scenic river and lake transport.
• Rundfahrten (Round Trips / Cruises) Scenic round-trip cruises of 1.5 to 4 hours departing from Schaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, Steckborn, Konstanz, and Kreuzlingen on the Untersee and Rhine, targeted at leisure travelers seeking short excursions.
• Schiff mieten (Charter Rental) Private charter rental of all six URh vessels for corporate events, team-building, celebrations, and special occasions, targeted at companies, associations, and group organizers.
• Schiff-Hotel MS Konstanz (Ship-Hotel) Floating hotel suite on MS Konstanz offering overnight stays on the Rhine, with catering from Restaurant Güterhof and breakfast at Hotel Kronenhof, targeted at couples and tourists seeking unique Rhine accommodation.
• Veganes Brunch-Schiff (Vegan Brunch Ship) Switzerland's first fully vegan brunch cruise operated in partnership with Die Kochpiraten and New Roots, featuring plant-based cuisine served on tiered stands, targeted at culinary and sustainability-focused travelers.
• Wii-Schiff (Wine Tasting Cruise) Wine tasting cruise featuring best wines from the Blauburgunderland (Pinot Noir region) with selections from Rötiberg Kellerei and Bringolf Weinbau, targeted at wine enthusiasts and regional culinary tourists.
• Vogelschau-Fahrt (Bird Watching Cruise) Nature cruise with expert-guided bird observation in partnership with Thurgauer Vogelschutz, observing waterfowl populations in Wollmatinger Ried and Ermatingerbecken, running April through October and attracting over 300 participants annually, targeted at nature enthusiasts.
• Saisonkarten (Season Cards) Annual passes valid for unlimited travel on URh routes throughout the season (e.g., Season Cards 2026), targeted at frequent local travelers and Swiss residents.
• Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers) Gift vouchers available for purchase through the e-guma online shop and valid for all URh services, targeted at gift buyers and tourists.
• Gruppenangebote (Group Packages) Customized group excursion packages for 10+ persons combining ship travel with activities such as wine tasting tours, medieval guided tours, and nature experiences, with a 30% group discount, targeted at companies, associations, and tour operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of required criteria met for Good Travel Seal certification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• New Roots - vegan creameryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2025Partnership for Switzerland's first vegan brunch ship. New Roots provides plant-based dairy alternatives for the themed cruise offering, complementing Die Kochpiraten' food preparation. New Roots won Green Business Award, strengthening sustainability credentials.
• Die Kochpiraten GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2022Since January 1, 2023, Die Kochpiraten GmbH operates on-board catering (Bordgastronomie) for all URh vessels. The partnership provides full food and beverage service including themed menus, brunch cruises, and special culinary events. Their experience with vegetarian and vegan preparation (via 'Ahlan Habibi' offering) enabled the launch of Switzerland's first vegan brunch ship.
• Thurgauer Vogelschutz (Thurgau Bird Protection)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThurgauer Vogelschutz provides expert-guided bird observation tours (Vogelschau-Fahrten) on URh vessels. Tours run April through October, attracting over 300 participants annually. Guides share knowledge about waterfowl populations in Seerhein, Ermatingerbecken, and Wollmatinger Ried.
• IBT GmbH (Bodensee Card PLUS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate partnership for Bodensee Card PLUS distribution. URh earns commissions when customers are referred to purchase the card through affiliate links on the URh website. Card provides travel benefits on URh routes.
• Vereinigte Schifffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und Rhein (VSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerURh is a member of the VSU association, coordinating scheduled shipping on Lake Constance and Rhine. This association manages cross-company scheduling and promotes Lake Constance shipping regionally. Remo Rey, URh CEO, serves as President of VSSU (Verband Schweizerischer Schifffahrtsunternehmen) since April 2025.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BLS Schifffahrt: Operates passenger shipping on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, including scheduled services and themed dining/event cruises. Comparable Swiss inland-water ferry and excursion operator with combined transport and tourism positioning.
• Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe GmbH (BSB): Operates scheduled ferry services on Lake Constance (Obersee), connecting German, Austrian, and Swiss ports. Directly comparable to URh as a regional passenger ferry operator on the same Lake Constance/Untersee ecosystem, sharing route infrastructure and overlapping customer base on the Germany side.
• Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN): Operates passenger ships on Lake Geneva including scheduled services, gastronomy cruises, and themed event cruises. Similar scheduled-ferry-plus-experience-led model with on-board dining and themed offerings in the Swiss inland water transportation space.
• Zürcher Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (ZSG): Operates scheduled ferries and round-trip cruises on Lake Zurich. Same Swiss inland-water passenger ferry business model with leisure and dining services; comparable target customer base and seasonal operating profile.
• Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (Lake Lucerne Navigation Company / SGV): Operates scheduled passenger ferry service and themed cruises on Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. Closest comparable Swiss peer by business model: scheduled inland-water passenger transport, themed excursions, dining partnerships, seasonal operations, and similar Swiss tourism dynamics.
• Schifffahrt Wörthersee: Operates passenger ferry and excursion cruises on Lake Wörthersee in Austria. Comparable small-scale regional inland-water passenger transportation operator with scheduled services and tourist cruise offerings.

Regional players

• Sächsische Dampfschiffahrt (SDS): Operates the world's oldest and largest fleet of paddle steamers offering scheduled and themed cruises on the Elbe around Dresden. Comparable inland-water scheduled/excursion ferry operator with heritage branding and dining/event offerings, though in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschifffahrt (KD): Germany's largest Rhine passenger shipping company operating event, sightseeing, and line services on the Rhine. Larger established operator on the same river system with overlapping capability in passenger water transport, catering, and themed cruises.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Pewc3ueP9rI
• Facebookfacebook.com/schifffahrtURh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizerische-schifffahrtsgesellschaft-untersee-und-rhein-ag-ssuur-
• Instagraminstagram.com/SchifffahrtURh
• Xx.com/SchifffahrtURh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Swiss Shipping Company