Paddle steamer Genève

The "Genève" is the oldest steam paddle ship of Leman Lake.

"Genève" was built in 1896 by Sulzer for the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman. She was launched for the Swiss national exhibition in Geneva.

"Genève" was the theater of the death of Elisabeth of Bavaria on 10 September 1898. The wounded Empress, who had been stabbed, boarded the ship, where her condition was seen to be life-threatening, and "Genève" turned around to return her to the Hôtel Beau-Rivage, where she died shortly afterwards.

On 3 May 1928, near Pully, "Genève" collided with the "Rhône". The left anchor of "Genève" became entangled into the rigging of the "Rhône", breaking her bowsprit and her figurehead, and snapping the top of the fore-mast. A passenger was killed by a falling piece of the fore-mast.

In 1934, "Genève" went under a refit, where her steam machinery was replaced with diesel engines. She was the first CGN ship to be converted to diesel.

In 1973, "Genève" was taken out of commission and sold for scrap. The next year, she was purchased by an "Association pour le Bateau "Genève" for 75 000 CHF, and moored at Eaux-Vives dock. She ship is now unserviceable, but still afloat.

The name "Genève" was taken by a CGN swift boat on 31 October 2007.

ources

* [http://www.bateaugeneve.ch Association pour le Bateau "Genève"]
*Association des amis des bateaux à vapeur du Léman (ABVL)
* Jacques Christinat, "Bateaux du Léman : deux siècles de navigation", Cabédita, 2003. ISBN 2882950616