United Waterways has announced that the Grand Council of the canton of Basel-Stadt approved the sale of Basler Personenschifffahrt (BPG) to United Waterways

The company said that 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 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,” said 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,” added Straubhaar.

Dr. Sascha Gill, CEO of United Waterways, added: “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,” added Gill.

The company said in a press release that it 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 removed from the 2026 sailing schedule at the end of 2025, the new management will try to open up new prospects for the popular “Basler Dybli” in and for Basel.

Image: MS Rhystärn in Basel