[ad_1]
Starting Monday, the Swiss Bodensee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft AG will cancel most off-season courses. Passenger frequencies have plummeted by more than 50 percent. There have been isolated layoffs. The company will have to reapply for short-time work in the fall and expects a loss of millions.
Crew members in protective masks on the MS Zurich in Romanshorn.
It was emerging. Last week, the shipping company Untersee und Rhein (URh) announced a reduced schedule, reduced hours for permanent workforce and layoffs for seasonal employees. The same is happening now at Swiss Bodensee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft AG (SBS).
After the main season schedule was reduced by 20 percent in the past three weeks, the off-season schedule is now being greatly reduced as well. Only cross traffic from Rorschach to Lindau, which is shared with German shipping companies, and the Rorschach – Rheineck line operate on weekends on schedule. All remaining SBS AG courses will be canceled without replacement from Monday.
The ferry is not affected by the cancellation and, as usual, runs every hour between Romanshorn and Friedrichshafen.
No improvement in sight
“Management did not facilitate this decision,” says Andrea Ruf, CEO of the company, according to a press release.
“From a business point of view, however, it is our duty to pull the emergency brake if individual prices turn too red and, when possible, endanger the entire company.”
Andrea Ruf.
Also in August, the frequencies were between 30 and 50 percent below the previous year. “We are used to subsidizing deficit courses in the fall. However, this can no longer be justified at the current level, ”says Ruf. In general, the shipping company expects less than 50 percent of sales compared to a normal season.
The company wanted to wait with the decision until the Federal Council decided to continue with the mask requirement. Did this this week. A boat trip without the wind in your face is not the same, it says in the message. Many passengers would view this the same way and stay away from the ships.
Occasional pronounced layoffs
The fact that the ships stop earlier in the port has consequences: “We had to get rid of some seasonal workers from the nautical and restaurant sector earlier than usual. Due to the current situation, the company was forced to lay off permanent employees. “A total of six jobs were eliminated. Along with the natural fluctuation, this helps to secure the company and the remaining jobs.
Bad for Thurgau tourism
The shipping crisis is very unpleasant for Thurgau tourism, says Dominik Diezi, Mayor of Arbon. The port city is currently not seriously affected because it has comparatively few connections by boat. But in the medium term, Arbon wants to expand tourism, and for this attractive boat connections are important.
Dominik Diezi.
Consequences for the entire canton cannot be ruled out. Diezi says:
“If the crisis lasts for a long time, the rest of the public transport network could be affected. That would be very bad for tourism. ”
The restaurant is ok
However, SBS AG Hafen’s in-house restaurant in Romanshorn has performed well since the closure was lifted and has helped cut the loss of millions somewhat. In order to prolong the good summer business of the restaurant as long as possible, outdoor events are planned for fall and winter.
Optimistic about the future
Despite the current difficulties, the company looks to the future with confidence. “We are cautiously optimistic that in 2021 we will be able to pick up where we left off in 2019,” says Andrea Ruf. She hopes the mask requirement will at least fall on the outer shell by the start of the season in 2021 or that a blanket mask requirement will at least reduce unequal treatment of shipping.
The company that surrounds major shareholder Hermann Hess sticks to its hotel project in the port of Romanshorn, among other things, to further reduce its dependence on shipping.
