The paddle steamers still operating today on the Swiss lakes represent a splendid tourist attraction. However on Lake Constance the last such boat, the SS Schaffhausen, was scrapped in 1967. Today efforts are under way to revive the tradition of steamboats on the lake.

The Technical University of Rapperswil carried out, in collaboration with a marine engineer and StauffacherBenz, a feasibility study for building a new ship based on the historic original, but which will conform to today’s requirements (modern construction, legally required safety equipment and conditions, efficient drive system, economic operation). StauffacherBenz worked chiefly on the conceptual aspects, and on the visualisation of the results of this feasibility study.

The Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Untersee und Rhein has taken up the study, and is now considering its practical implementation. At the moment it is an open question whether and when the idea will be turned into reality.

Detailed Information (available in german only): Machbarkeitsstudie_DS_SH_110205.pdf (1.8MB)