Swiss ocean-going vessels "Trudy" and "Helvetia" under new flag
The ocean-going vessels of the Swiss Confederation, "Trudy" and "Helvetia", were taken over by the Briese Schiffahrt Group at a cost of around CHF 15 million and transferred to a long-term successor solution. Briese Schiffahrt uses the two ships primarily for the transport of wind turbines.
Even as a landlocked country, Switzerland has (had) an ocean-going fleet, operated by shipping companies and secured by federal guarantees. However, these have had little success in the recent past and new solutions have had to be found. In this context, several Swiss-based investors have taken a direct stake in two multipurpose ships and their value creation. After the redemption of the federal guarantees and the associated financial restructuring, the two ships "Trudy" and "Helvetia" are on a solid economic footing and will generate sustainable earnings.
Disappearing from the negative headlines
Philipp Leibundgut, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Briese Schiffahrt (Schweiz) AG, explains why investments in multi-purpose ships are worthwhile: "The Swiss ocean-going fleet has attracted negative headlines in recent years. This was not due to the Confederation's ocean-going vessels, but to the fact that small shipping companies operated them. With the integration of the ships into the ocean-going fleet of the market-leading Briese Schiffahrt, significant economies of scale are achieved in terms of revenues and costs. In addition, "Trudy" and "Helvetia" are young ships that excel at transporting wind turbines, a rapidly growing market. Thus, they are already making a direct contribution to the New Green Deal."
Ocean-going vessels now with new flag and new names
Local investor support is provided by Briese Schiffahrt (Schweiz) AG, Zurich. Investors already have direct stakes in multi-purpose ships with a newbuilding value of over EUR 150 million. Further investment projects are being prepared for the current year. Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG, a second-generation family-owned company headquartered in Leer, Germany, is the market leader with around 150 ocean-going vessels in the multipurpose and project cargo business. Worldwide, Briese Schiffahrt has 31 branches and employs more than 3,000 people.
The ships are no longer allowed to sail under the neutral Swiss flag, as the legal framework does not currently permit this. Registered in the German maritime register, the ships now operate under the names "BBC Rhônetal" and "BBC Rheiderland". The abbreviation "BBC" stands for the subsidiary BBC Chartering. According to its own information, this is the world market leader in the transport business for maritime heavy-lift cargo and a competence partner in the transport of wind turbines.
Source and further information: www.briese.ch
