Post by KG on Jul 4, 2018 20:52:42 GMT
Plying the world's trade routes: the Swiss merchant navy at 75
The Swiss merchant navy was established at the height of the Second War World to ensure the supply of essential resources to Switzerland, which at the time stood alone in the middle of devastated Europe. The fleet continues to sail the high seas three quarters of a century later.
Its ships bear names such as the 'Général Guisan', 'Matterhorn', 'Andermatt', 'Moléson', 'Romandie', 'Aventicum', 'Bernardino' and comprise bulk cargo vessels for carrying grain, coal, steel and bauxite, as well as chemical tankers for transporting acids and refined products from one continent to another in response to world demand and supply – and not just to supply Switzerland via Rotterdam and Basel.
On 9 April 1941, the Swiss maritime flag was created by the Federal Council with the theoretical home port in Basel, Switzerland's port on the Rhine. The very first cargo ship was the 'Calanda', which belonged to the Schweizerische Reederei AG, shipping company. Currently, six shipping companies – three in German-speaking Zurich and three in the French-speaking part of the country on the shores of Lake Geneva – operate the 49 cargo vessels sailing under the Swiss flag.
There have never been so many merchant ships sailing under the Swiss flag calling at ports around the world.
LINK
The Swiss merchant navy was established at the height of the Second War World to ensure the supply of essential resources to Switzerland, which at the time stood alone in the middle of devastated Europe. The fleet continues to sail the high seas three quarters of a century later.
Its ships bear names such as the 'Général Guisan', 'Matterhorn', 'Andermatt', 'Moléson', 'Romandie', 'Aventicum', 'Bernardino' and comprise bulk cargo vessels for carrying grain, coal, steel and bauxite, as well as chemical tankers for transporting acids and refined products from one continent to another in response to world demand and supply – and not just to supply Switzerland via Rotterdam and Basel.
On 9 April 1941, the Swiss maritime flag was created by the Federal Council with the theoretical home port in Basel, Switzerland's port on the Rhine. The very first cargo ship was the 'Calanda', which belonged to the Schweizerische Reederei AG, shipping company. Currently, six shipping companies – three in German-speaking Zurich and three in the French-speaking part of the country on the shores of Lake Geneva – operate the 49 cargo vessels sailing under the Swiss flag.
There have never been so many merchant ships sailing under the Swiss flag calling at ports around the world.
LINK