Basler Personenschifffahrt passenger shipping has been an integral and important part of tourism in the Basel region in Switzerland for decades. With today’s approval by the Grand Council, UNITED WATERWAYS is taking on the responsibility of continuing and developing this tradition.
In September, the government of the canton of the City of Basel announced its intention to sell Basler Personenschifffahrt (BPG) to UNITED WATERWAYS. Today, the Grand Council of the canton of Basel-Stadt approved the sale. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the 100-year-old shipping company BPG.
With this acquisition, UNITED WATERWAYS is expanding its “Floating Venues” division with three additional event and excursion ships – and, after London, Amsterdam, Cologne, and Dresden, with a new location in Basel for diverse and high-quality events on the water.
“We would like to thank the canton of Basel-Stadt for its trust and look forward to leading Basler Personenschifffahrt into an independent and successful future together with the existing BPG team,” says Robert Straubhaar, Executive Chairman at UNITED WATERWAYS. “Our goal is to expand the existing offerings and develop additional attractions on the water together with our tourism partners in Basel and the region. For UNITED WATERWAYS, headquartered in Basel, BPG is a matter close to our hearts.”
Dr. Sascha Gill, CEO of UNITED WATERWAYS, adds: “Shipping is part of Basel’s identity. With a significantly greater presence from 2027 and innovative formats, we want to strengthen BPG economically and drive forward future investments in environmentally friendly ship propulsion systems. We have the expertise and the ambition to tackle this challenge with commitment, together with the existing BPG team.”
UNITED WATERWAYS will prepare for integration in the coming months and work with tourism stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development of products and the fleet. The current BPG fleet includes two ships: the Rhystärn, a flagship vessel with a capacity of 600 passengers, and the Christoph Merian, which can carry 500 passengers. Although the traditional “Basler Dybli” was finally removed from the 2026 sailing schedule at the end of 2025 and is actually supposed to be sold, the new management will try to open up new prospects for the popular “Basler Dybli” in and for Basel.