Schleppschiff
Kanalpenische (Schleppkahn für den Rhein)
Dating
19. Jh. - 20. Jh.Description
Kanalpenische (Schleppkahn für den Rhein)Signature / Inscription
Signatur / Beschriftung: Beschriftung: Beflaggung von Basel und SchweizObject type
Object (three-dimensional)Geography
Territorium: RheinMaterial / Technique
Metall, Holz, KunststoffInventory number
VHS-90Legend
Barge
Some Milestones to Rhine Navigation
The origins of the Rhine date back to pre-Roman days. Through the centuries down to modern times, rowing boats – often fitted with auxiliary sails – carried passengers and goods on the stream’s generally sluggish waters. On their upstream journey, the ships were towed by horses from riverside paths. Huge rafts of logs cut in the forests lining the upper Rhine were sent downstream to the shipyards of the Netherlands. But in those days, anxiously guarded corporations rules and countless tolls were a serious impediment to trade and traffic on the Rhine.
The freedom of navigation on the Rhine is granted by the Mannheim Charter of 1868, an agreement concluded by the states then bordering on the Rhine, and later joined by Switzerland. The charter is based in a principle adopted by the Vienna Congress of 1815, according to which ships of all nationalities may navigate on the Rhine, and navigation is not to be impeded by levies of any kind. Switzerland is represented on the Central Rhine Commission, supervising authority seated in Strasbourg.
The invention of the steam, engine gave a new impulse to river navigation. In 1832, the first steamship reached Basle. However, the newly built railway lines along the Rhine keenly competed with river traffic and soon caused the steamship a service to Basle to be abandoned.
From 1860 onwards, river-bed corrections made it possible for steam-powered tugs to tow barges upstream from Mannheim to Strasbourg. Thanks to the initiative of engineer R. Gelpke, the first towed convoy arrived in Basel in 1904. From 1919, Swiss ships have sailed on the Rhine under their own flag. Switzerland helped to finance river bed corrections above Strasbourg, which enabled ships to navigate on the river up to Basle throughout the year.
The steam tugs were gradually replaced by more powerful motor tugs and after 1930, self-propelled motor barges and motor tankers were put into service on the Rhine.
Recently, the more rational push-boat method – imported from the Mississippi – has been adopted, particularly on the lower Rhine.
Technical data
Main colour
braunType of propulsion
ohne AntriebSystematics
• Barges