Ships on Lake Constance

Lake Constance borders on Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Therefore, ships from all three countries travel on the lake. I will start with the Swiss Shipping Company of Lake Contance (SBS).

The motor ship Thurgau is the oldest ship of the SBS fleet. It entered service in 1932. Throughout the years it was rebuilt time and again so that its appearance changed considerably. Here it is in Romanshorn harbour. [Aug 2015].

Thurgau Particulars: Passengers: 500 pax. Lenght: 49.0m Width: 7.98m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The ship in Romanshorn harbour. [Aug 2015].
The three large ships of the SBS are named after the Swiss cantons that border Lake Contance. This is the view from the stern of the Thurgau. [Aug 2015].
One year after the motor ship Thurgau its sister ship Zürich was put into service in 1933. The ship underway near Rorschach. [Aug 2015].
Zürich Particulars: Passengers: 500 pax. Length: 49.0m Width: 7.98m Shipyard: Bodanwerft Kressbronn. The Zürich in Lindau. [Aug 2015].
In many seasons the Zürich is used on a morning course to Meersburg and afternoon courses between Rorschach and Lindau. Here, she arrives in the port of Lindau. [Aug 2015].
From the 1990s to 2006 the motor ship Zürich travelled on Lake Contances as the Frisco-Dessert-Liner. I met the ship in this advertising livery in Romanshorn. [Jul 2005].
The flag of the Zürich waves as if in farewell, as the ship turns to sail from Rorschach to Lindau. [Aug 2015].
The motor ship Säntis entered service in 1953. Säntis Particulars: Passengers: 320 pax. Length: 40.50m Width: 8.50m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The Säntis in Romanshorn. [Aug 2014].
The motor ship St Gallen entered service in 1967. It is the flag ship of the SBS and also the largest ship of the fleet. Here, it arrives in Rorschach. [Aug 2015].
St Gallen Particulars: Passengers: 650 pax. Length: 51.20m Width: 10.50m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The St Gallen lies in the port of Romanshorn. The piles for the the new lakeside deck can be seen at the front of the picture. [Feb 2015].
The motor ship Rhyspitz was put in service in 1970 to operate trips on the Old Rhine. These days it is also sometimes used for voyages in the central section of Lake Constance. Here, it leaves the port of Rorschach aft first. [Aug 2015].
Rhyspitz Particulars: Passengers: 150 pax. Length: 28.60m Width: 5.20m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. In winter, the Rhyspitz is tied up in Romanshorn. In the background are the transit warehouses of Romanshorn, which are hardly used these days. [Feb 2015].
The Rhyspitz near Rorschach as it sets off on a trip along the Old Rhine. [Aug 2015].
I do not have photos of the other two ships of the SBS, the motor ships Rhynegg and Alte Rhy. They were entered service in 1977 and 1983 respectively and are mainly used on courses from Rorschach to the Old Rhine. This is a view of the church of Rorschach from Lake Constance. [Aug 2015].
Together with the German Ship Operations of Lake Constance (BSB), the Swiss Shipping Company of Lake Constance (SBS) operates vehicle ferries between Friedrichshafen on the German side of the lake and Romanshorn on the Swiss shore. The Romanshorn is the oldest ferry and is owned by the SBS. It entered service in 1958. Here, it is half-way through its voyage across the lake. [Aug 2014].
Romanshorn Particulars: Passengers: 560 pax. Cars: 35 Length: 55.50m Width: 13.4m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The Romanshorn is tied up in Romanshorn. [Jul 2005].
About 75% of the passengers board the ferry on foot. But the ferry also transport cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes and bicycles. Here's a picture of the vehicle deck of the Romanshorn. [Feb 2015].
This is the ramp over which passengers and vehicles board the ferry. The Romanshorn is loaded in Romanshorn. [Feb 2015].
Just like many other ports on Lake Constance, the port of Romanshorn is also enclosed by a breakwater. The ferry Romanshorn leaves the port on a winter evening. [Feb 2015].
The Romanshorn has made fast in Friedrichshafen. From here passengers can walk to the station Friedrichshafen Port and have connections to the German train network. The Swiss Cross is clearly displayed on the side of the ferry. [Feb 2015].
The German BSB operate the ferry Friedrichshafen. It originally entered service in 1966 as the motor ferry Rorschach for the Swiss Federal Railways SBB. In 1982 it was rebuilt and entered service in 1983 as the MF Friedrichshafen for the German Federal Railway DB. Initially it was chartered and then in 1994 the German BSB took it over. The Friedrichshafen is tied up in Friedrichshafen. [Aug 2014].
Friedrichshafen Particulars: Passengers: 500 pax. Cars: 44 Length: 55.50m Width: 12.24m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The Friedrichshafen in the middle of Lake Constance during fog. [Feb 2015].
The ferry crossing takes about 40 minutes. The Swiss and German ferries together operate an hourly service and meet in the middle of the lake. From another ferry, I took this photo of the Friedrichshafen.. [Feb 2015].
The Euregia entered service in 1996 and was partly financed by European integration grants. The ship is jointly owned and operated by the Swiss SBS and the German BSB. The Euregia arrives in Romanshorn. [Aug 2014].
Euregia Particulars: Passengers: 700 pax. Cars: 50 Length: 60.00m Width: 13.44m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. A truck leaves the Euregia in Romanshorn. [Aug 2014].
This photo shows the Euregia tied up in Friedrichshafen. Because only two ships are needed for the timetable, one of the three ferries is usually tied up in Romanshorn or Friedrichshafen. [Feb 2015].
Just as in Switzerland and Austria, the German liner service on Lake Constance were once operated by the state railway. The German state railway Deutsche Bahn AG sold its subsidiary BSB to the City of Constance, which is also active in other ferry and shipping operations on Lake Constance. The motor ship Karlsruhe entered service in 1937 for the state railway Deutsche Reichsbahn. The ship arrives in Lindau. [Aug 2015].
Karlsruhe Particulars: Passengers: 900 pax. Length: 56.3m Width: 11.38m Shipyard: Deggendorfer Werft und Eisenbau GmbH. The Karlsruhe is turning in Lindau. [Aug 2015].
The Karlsruhe has left Lindau and is heading towards Bregenz in Austria. [Aug 2015].
Later, the Karlsruhe arrives again in Lindau from Bregenz. [Aug 2015].
I only show the few ships, which have appeared before my camera on my few visits to Lake Constance. One of these was the ship Stuttgart belonging to the BSB, which I met near Lindau. It entered service in 1960 for the Deutsche Bundesbahn. [Aug 2015].
Stuttgart Particulars: Passengers: 1000 pax. Length: 57.80m Width: 12.60m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The Stuttgart was used as a stationary sales area at the Christmas market in Constance. [Dez 2014].
The motor ship Graf Zeppelin arrives in Lindau. It entered service in 1989 for the Deutsche Bundesbahn. Graf Zeppelin Particulars: Passengers: 700 pax. Length: 56.25m Width: 12.20m Shipyard: ÖSWAG, Linz. [Aug 2015].
The motor ship Königin Katharina was put into service in 1996. It has a very modern design and has a low profile. Here it is underway near Lindau. [Aug 2015].
Königin Katharina Particulars: Passengers: 500 pax. Length: 52.60m Width: 9.98m Shipyard: Deutsche Binnenwerften AG, Genthin. The Königin Katharina enters the port of Lindau. [Aug 2015].
The motor ship Grossherzog Ludwig entered service in 2000 for the Bodman Motor Boat Company. From 2005 to 2009 it was chartered by the BSB. During this time I saw it in Friedrichshafen. Grossherzog Ludwig Particulars: Passengers: 200 pax. Length: 30.10m Width: 6.60m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. [Jul 2005].
The motor ship Lindau entered service in 2006 for the BSB. It has a large atrium inside so that the upper and lower deck are spatially connected. Because ships on Lake Constance do not have separate accommodation for 1st and 2nd class passengers, but just one standard class, any passenger can sit on the upper deck. The Lindau in Rorschach. [Aug 2015].
Lindau Particulars: Passengers: 500 pax. Length: 45.90m Width: 10.30m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. The Lindau has just arrived in Lindau and from its stern the harbour entrance lies straight ahead beyond the German flag. [Aug 2015].
Since 2005 catamarans operate hourly between Friedrichshafen and Constance, mainly serving commuters. They are operated by the Catamaran Shipowners Lake Constance, a company owned by the cities of Constance and Friedrichshafen. The catamaran Constanze entered service in 2005. I met the ship near Friedrichshafen. Constanze Particulars: Passengers: 182 pax. Length: 33.64m Width: 7.60m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. [Jul 2005].
Effective 1 January 2006, the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB sold the shipping operations to a private consortium known as Vorarlberg Lines. One of the ships of this fleet is the Austria, which entered service in 1939 for the Deutsche Reichsbahn at a time when Austria was part of Germany (Hitler had taken it over). The Austria travels on Lake Constance near Langenargen, Germany. [Aug 2015].
Austria Particulars: Passengers: 1200 pax. Length: 59.85m Width: 11.20m Shipyard: Schiffswerft Korneuburg. The Austria was the fastest motor ship on Lake Contance. It certainly has that elegant looks. [Aug 2015].
The Austria leaves Friedrichshafen. Its lines still follow the classic ship design from before WW II. [Aug 2014].
The only remaining paddle steamer on Lake Constance is the Hohentwiel. It entered service in 1913 for the Royal State Railway of Württemberg. In 1962 it was taken out of service by the German State Railway Deutsche Bundesbahn. Since 1990 it again steams on the lake for the International Shipping Museum Association, but now under the Austrian flag. It runs regular voyages and the ship can also be chartered for events. Unfortunately, I only have a very bad picture of the ship near Lindau. Hohentwiel Particulars: Passengers: 850 pax. Length: 56.58m Width: 13.00m Shipyard: Escher Wyß & Cie, Zürich. [Aug 2015].
Several small, private operators offer local trips on Lake Constance. For example, Wiehrer Shipping offer round trips near Lindau with their ship Bayern, built in 1988. Bayern Particulars: Passengers: 250 pax. Length: 30.80m Width: 7.50m Shipyard: Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. Unfortunately, I never encountered good weather when I was at Lake Constance in the last 20 years. [Aug 2015].