Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) - Paddle steamers

This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN). An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. Below this is the Fleet List - Part 3 in chronological order. There is a table of individual ship histories on the CGN Header Page.


Contact:- www.cgn.ch

Ships on This Page in Alphabetical Order:-
Bécassine (1961-1985 )
Chablais (1974- )
Col-Vert (1960- )
Coppet (2007- )
Général Guisan (1963- )
Genève (2007- )
Grèbe (1960- )
Henry Dunant (1962- )
Lausanne (2) (1991- )
Lavaux (2006- )
Léman (4) (1942-89 )
Léman (5) (1990- )
Morges (2005- )
Valais (2) (2008- )
Venoge (1905- ) - non-passenger vessel
Ville de Genève (1978- )

Ships on This Page in Chronological Order:-
E: Venoge (1905- ) - non-passenger vessel
15: Léman (4) (1942-89 )
44: Col-Vert (1960- )
45: Grèbe (1960- )
46: Bécassine (1961-19-- )
47: Henry Dunant (1962- )
48: Général Guisan (1963- )
50: Chablais (1974- )
51: Ville de Genève (1978- )
52: Léman (1990- )
53: Lausanne (2) (1991- )
54: Morges (2005- )
55: Lavaux (2006- )
56: Coppet (2007- )
57: Genève (2007- )
58: Valais (2) (2008- )

CGN Pages:-
CGN Header Page
CGN - Page 1 - Paddle Steamers 1822-1886
CGN - Page 2 - Paddle Vessels 1887-2004
CGN - Page 3 - Screw Motor Vessels - this page!
CGN - Page 4 - The 2004 Fleet
CGN - Page 5 - The 2005 Fleet
CGN - Page 6 - The 2006 Fleet
CGN - Page 7 - The 2011 Fleet

Associated Pages:-
www.cgn.ch - Official CGN website
2008 Summer Timetable - 1MB PDF File - requires Adobe Reader
Société des Mouettes Genevoises - Geneva local ferries
2004 Holiday on Lake Geneva
2005 Weekend in Geneva
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

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powered by FreeFind CGN Fleet List - Page 3 Venoge (1905- )
Venoge was built for CGN in 1905 for cargo services on the lake. She is of historic interest as being the first ship to be built powered by a Sulzer diesel engine. Her engine was recently replaced with a General Motors unit. Venoge is now based at Ouchy, and is used (mainly in the winter) on pier repair work.


Venoge, trans-shipping freight from the railway at Le Bouveret, with the Général Dufour.
Photograph of Venoge at Ouchy.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of Venoge at Ouchy.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Léman (4) (1942-89 ) A complete history of Léman (4) starts on this link. Postcard of Léman (4).
Postcard of Léman (4) at her usual berth in Ouchy.
Général Dufour is behind on the left
Photograph of Léman (4) laid up at the CGN yard at Ouchy in July 1986.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
44: Col-Vert (1960- )

In 2004 and 2005, Col-Vert operated short cruises out of Geneva.

A complete history of Col-Vert starts on this link.
Additional images of Col-Vert in 2005.


Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lausanne-Ouchy, August 1988.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Geneva, 2nd August 2004.
45: Grèbe (1960- ) In 2004 and 2005, Grèbe operated short ferry trips around Yvoire and Nyon. A complete history of Grèbe starts on this link. Additional images of Grèbe in 2004. Additional images of Grèbe in 2005. Postcard of Grèbe at Geneva. Photograph of Grèbe arriving at Thonon. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th July 2004. Photograph of Grèbe arriving at Yvoire.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th July 2004.
46: Bécassine (1961-1985)

Bécassine is no longer part of the CGN fleet, but was owned by them between 1961-85. Since she remains active working out of Geneva, I have included her her for completeness. Bécassine MG No.18 was built in 1931 for the Société des Mouettes Genevoises. Between 1941-61 she worked on the Société des Lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat. She was brought back to Lake Geneva to carry diplomats between Signal-de-Bougy to Evian during negotiations on the Algerian war of independence. She was managed by CGN, although owned by the French state, and given the name Bécassine. After the conference, she was bought by CGN. She was used as a company work boat, and occasionally on services out of Ouchy. In 1985 she was sold back to her original owners, Société des Mouettes Genevoises and now carries both previous names Bécassine and M.G.No.18. She is maintained in beautiful condition for circular trips from Geneva.
Photograph of Bécassine MG No.18 at Pâquis, Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, Geneva, 4th August 2004. Photograph of Bécassine MG No.18 at Pâquis, Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, Geneva, 4th August 2004. Photograph of Bécassine MG No.18 at Pâquis, Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, Geneva, 4th August 2004. 47: Henry Dunant (1962- )
During the peak summer of 2004 (mid-July to Mid-August), Henry Dunant was kept as the spare and charter boat at Geneva. Outside this period, she operated one of the two-day rosters with the Rhône (3) , but is displaced by the Vevey during the short height of the season. A complete history of Henry Dunant starts on this link. Additional 2004 images of Henry Dunant are available on this link. Postcard of Henry Dunant at Geneva. Photograph of Henry Dunant.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988.
48: Général Guisan (1963- )
In 2004, Général Guisan operated a morning return trip to Geneva from Ouchy, followed by three evening returns to Evian, Evian/Thonon and Evian. The evening Thonon trip is marketed as a dinner cruise. A complete history of Général Guisan starts on this link. Additional 2004 images of Général Guisan are available on this link.

Postcard of Général Guisan.

Général Guisan (behind), Helvétie (top right), and Rhone (bottom right) at Ouchy.

Général Guisan (behind), Vevey (right), and Italie (left) at Yvoire at the daily 16:00hrs meeting. On alternate days in 2004, Rhône (3) replaces Vevey. Editions Revalp (Albertville) E.329.E157. Photo: © M.Glatz.

Photograph of Général Guisan. Photo: © Ian Boyle, Yvoire, 30th July 2004.

Photograph of Général Guisan. Photo: © Ian Boyle, Nyon, 30th July 2004.

50: Chablais (1974- )
For many years, Chablais has operated on a circular route around the Haut-Lac Supérieur, between Le Bouveret-St Gingolph-Vevey-Montreux-Villeneuve-Le Bouveret and intermediate piers. She completed 5 circuits each day in 2004. Her blue livery is sponsored by an ice-cream company. A complete history of Chablais starts on this link. Additional 2004 images of Chablais are available on this link. Postcard of Chablais (2) at Le Bouveret.

Photograph of Chablais (2) at Vevey. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.

Photograph of Chablais (2). Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.

Photograph of Chablais leaving Montreux on her circuit of the Haut-Lac Supérieur. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th July 2004.

Photograph of Chablais leaving Montreux on her circuit of the Haut-Lac Supérieur. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th July 2004.

Chablais arriving at Vevey, with revised livery. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Chablais leaving Vevey. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

51: Ville de Genève (1978- )
During the summer of 2004, Ville de Genève was kept as the spare and charter boat at Ouchy. Ville de Genève is essentially a repeat of the Chablais design, but given a more streamlined outline giving her a distinctive appearance. A complete history of Ville de Genève is available on this link. Additional 2005 images of Ville de Genève are available on this link. Postcard of Ville de Genève. Postcard of Ville de Genève arriving at Yvoire, with Montreux at the pier. Photograph of Ville de Genève. Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1988. Photograph of Ville de Genève in the CGN yard at Ouchy. Photo: © Ian Boyle, Ouchy, 26th July 2004. Ville de Genève leaving Nernier. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005. 52: Léman (1990- )
Léman (5) operates most of the ferry services between Evian and Ouchy. Many French people commute to Lausanne for work, and there is busy return traffic on market days in Evian. Léman (5) is easily the easily attractive CGN vessel to travel on, with functional plastic seating, little open deck space, and no difference between classes. Whilst accepting the need for a warm enclosed ferry in winter, surely some of the side panels could have been made removable during the hot summer months. A complete history Léman (5) starts on this link. Additional 2004 images of Léman (5) are available on this link.
Postcard of Léman (5) at Evian-les-Bains. Postcard of Léman (5) at Evian-les-Bains. Postcard of Léman (5) at Evian-les-Bains. Photograph of Léman (5) arriving at Ouchy from Evian. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th July 2004. Photograph of Léman (5) arriving at Evian from Ouchy. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd August 2004. Photograph of Léman (5) arriving at Evian from Ouchy. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd August 2004. Photograph of Léman (5) (right) and Général Guisan at Ouchy. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th July 2004. 53: Lausanne (2) (1991- )
Lausanne (2) is an impressively large ship with three full decks. In peak summer she runs three cruises out of Geneva each day, those at lunchtime and the evening being marketed as gastronomic cruises with excellent food served on the top deck. When first built, she was tried on the Geneva-St Gingolph-Geneva "Rhone Express", but now seems to see little regular use outside of the peak season, when her cruises are taken by the Vevey. A complete history of Lausanne (2) starts on this link. Additional 2004 images of Lausanne (2) are available on this link. Postcard of Lausanne (2) at Ouchy. Photograph of Lausanne (2) arriving at Nyon on her evening cruise from Geneva to Yvoire. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 28th July 2004. Photograph of Lausanne (2) at her overnight berth in Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd August 2004. Photograph of Lausanne (2) at her overnight berth in Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd August 2004. Photograph of Lausanne (2) in Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th August 2004. 54: Morges (2005- ) All Morges images link to larger copies which open in a new window CGN ordered two grandes vedettes for lesser used coastwise traffic and charters in summer and for longer trips out of season. Morges was launched in 2005, followed by Lavaux in 2006. A third vessel Valais (2) was ordered to begin service in 2008. One vessel took over the Geneva circular tours from Grèbe, which was sold rather than being refurbished like sister Col-Vert. Despite being much larger than the Grèbe, Valais was quite over-crowded on the trip which I took. Morges at Yvoire Photo: © Marika Morges leaving Ouchy with Léman Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 22nd July 2011 Morges leaving Ouchy with Léman Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 22nd July 2011 Morges leaving Ouchy with Léman Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 22nd July 2011 55: Lavaux (2006- ) All Lavaux images link to larger copies which open in a new window CGN ordered two grandes vedettes for lesser used coastwise traffic and charters in summer and for longer trips out of season. Morges was launched in 2005, followed by Lavaux in 2006. A third vessel Valais (2) was ordered to begin service in 2008. One vessel took over the Geneva circular tours from Grèbe, which was sold rather than being refurbished like sister Col-Vert. Despite being much larger than the Grèbe, Valais was quite over-crowded on the trip which I took. Lavaux at Geneva. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 21st July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 21st July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 21st July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 21st July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 21st July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 21st July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2006. Lavaux at Geneva.Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2006. Lavaux arriving at Quai Mont Blanc, Geneva Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 26th July 2011 Lavaux arriving at Quai Mont Blanc, Geneva Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 26th July 2011 Lavaux at Quai Mont Blanc, Geneva Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 26th July 2011 Lavaux at Quai Mont Blanc, Geneva Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 26th July 2011 56: Coppet (2007- ) All Coppet images link to larger copies which open in a new window CGN ordered two Navibuses Coppet and Genève (2) from S.E.E.Merré (Nantes) for delivery in 2007. These are used primarily on fast services between Ouchy and Thonon, with some services running via Morges. There is also a fast service from Ouchy along the Lavaux coast to Vevey, Montreux and St Gingolph which was busy with returning commuters. There does not seem to be an equivalent fast service to bring commuters into Lausanne, with the first service being the Ville de Genève which does not reach Ouchy until 10:40am. Demand for travel from Thonon means that both vessels are required for peak morning services, so there is not currently an option to run a fast morning service in from Vevey/Montreux. The Navibuses are 25m long and carry 120 passengers with a block of seats reserved for 1st class. They are powered by two Caterpillar diesels driving water jets. Each engine is 1045kW, compared to the 870kW of each of the mighty Lausanne's two engines. Coppet at Yvoire Photo: © Marika Coppet at Yvoire Photo: © Marika Coppet at Yvoire Photo: © Marika Coppet at Yvoire Photo: © Marika Coppet at YvoirePhoto: © Marika Coppet arriving at Ouchy from Thonon Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 26th July 2011 Coppet at Ouchy Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 26th July 2011 57: Genève (2) (2007) All Genève (2) images link to larger copies which open in a new window CGN ordered two Navibuses Coppet and Genève (2) from S.E.E.Merré (Nantes) for delivery in 2007. These are used primarily on fast services between Ouchy and Thonon, with some services running via Morges. There is also a fast service from Ouchy along the Lavaux coast to Vevey, Montreux and St Gingolph which was busy with returning commuters. There does not seem to be an equivalent fast service to bring commuters into Lausanne, with the first service being the Ville de Genève which does not reach Ouchy until 10:40am. Demand for travel from Thonon means that both vessels are required for peak morning services, so there is not currently an option to run a fast morning service in from Vevey/Montreux. The Navibuses are 25m long and carry 120 passengers with a block of seats reserved for 1st class. They are powered by two Caterpillar diesels driving water jets. Each engine is 1045kW, compared to the 870kW of each of the mighty Lausanne's two engines. Genève arriving at Ouchy from Thonon Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 25th July 2011 Genève arriving at Ouchy from Thonon Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 25th July 2011 58: Valais (2) (2005- ) All Valais images link to larger copies which open in a new window CGN ordered two grandes vedettes for lesser used coastwise traffic and charters in summer and for longer trips out of season. Morges was launched in 2005, followed by Lavaux in 2006. A third vessel Valais (2) was ordered to begin service in 2008. One vessel took over the Geneva circular tours from Grèbe, which was sold rather than being refurbished like sister Col-Vert. Despite being much larger than the Grèbe, Valais was quite over-crowded on the trip which I took. Valais loading at Thonon for Evian Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 20th July 2011 Valais arriving at Thonon from Evian Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 20th July 2011 Valais leaving Yvoire for Thonon and Evian Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 20th July 2011 Valais - the main saloon Photo: @ Ian Boyle, 20th July 2011 CGN Header Page - CGN Page 1 - CGN Page 2 - CGN Page 3 - CGN Page 4 - CGN Page 5 Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page ©1999-2010 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved Free Web Counter Times viewed since 30/7/2007: