
Last modified: 2014-06-04 by rob raeside
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![[Société des Mouettes Genevoises Navigation SA]](../images/c/ch~smgn.jpg) image 
located by Ivan Sache, 13 May 2014
 image 
located by Ivan Sache, 13 May 2014
Société des Mouettes Genevoises Navigation SA (SMGN) operates small yellow 
boats called "mouettes" (seagulls) in the natural harbour of Geneva. The four 
lines (all together, 4.3 km) operated by the company are a quick, convenient 
means to connect the two banks of the harbour. The five landing stages of the 
company (De Châteaubriand and Pâquis on the right bank; Molard, Eaux-Vives and 
Port-Noir, on the left bank) are densely connected with the other means of 
public transportation (buses and tramways). The yellow boats that cross the 
harbour all the day long and all the year round are an emblematic element of the 
identity of Geneva, together with the world-famous Jet d'Eau, the Pont du 
Mont-Blanc, and the Pierres du Niton.
The first boat line crossing the 
harbour was founded in 1825 by the businessman Edward Church, also Consul of the 
USA in France. A paddle ship powered by horses walking all around the deck 
connected the landing stages of Pâquis and Eau x-Vives (the today's M2 line of 
SMGN); deemed too noisy and slow, the ship was soon disbanded.
The SMGN 
was established on 1 March 1897. It operates now three historical, wooden boats 
(30-50 passengers), a steel-hulled boat (50 passengers) and two boats powered by 
solar energy (60 passengers).
http://www.mouettesgenevoises.ch - Corporate website
The house flag 
of SMGN, hoisted on the company's terminals (except Molard), is vertically 
divided yellow-red - like the flag of Geneva -, with the company's emblem all 
over. The company's emblem is made of an anchor and of the writing "Mouettes / 
Genevoises / Navigation", all blue except the ring, which is filled with the 
Swiss national flag - red with a white cross.
[Photo taken on 4 May 2014 at 
the Pâquis landing stage]
Ivan Sache, 13 May 2014