2024 was a historic year for Austria’s largest and most traditional inland shipping company. The DDSG Blue Danube not only celebrated its 195th anniversary, but also welcomed two new fleet members, the MS Austria and MS Vienna. By taking over the ships from the Lower Austrian Brandner Schifffahrt, the shipping company’s fleet grew to nine ships, which significantly expanded capacity, especially in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Wachau. The ORF illuminates the history of the traditional shipping company in the program “Washed in all waters – on board the DDSG”. ORF ON can be seen.
2025 is another reason to celebrate
The DDSG Blue Danube is once again heading towards an anniversary this year. In 2025, the founding of the company in its current form, 30 years ago, will be celebrated. In 1995, DDSG Blue Danube emerged from a joint venture between VERKEHRSBUERO and Wien Holding as the successor company to the Erste Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft, founded in 1829. When it was founded, the shipping company set off with four ships and served routes as far as Passau (Germany) and Budapest (Hungary) with partner companies.
Course for success on the blue waves of the Danube
“In the Johann Strauss year, the eyes of the world are on the blue Danube. For guests from abroad, a boat trip on the Danube in the anniversary year will be a special experience. With innovations, strong tourism partnerships and an attractive offer, the DDSG Blue Danube 2024 has navigated difficult waters and successfully defied the challenges posed by the once-in-a-century flood.”
said Vienna’s economic city councilor Peter Hanke.
“The strong growth of the DDSG Blue Danube with its two new ships in the Wachau underlines the key role that the shipping company plays in the networked tourist offer. The expansion of strategic marketing partnerships with, among others, the Austria Trend Hotels, the City Airport Train and Vienna Airport creates new synergies in the rapidly growing Viennese tourism.”
says TRAFFIC SBUERO CEO Martin Winkler.
“30 years of DDSG Blue Danube in its current form are worth taking a look at the economic performance of the company that promotes the country’s nautical future. 15 apprentices are currently being trained and are going on long journeys on board the DDSG Blue Danube fleet. A remarkable 42 percent of employees began their careers in nautical teaching at DDSG Blue Danube and are still on board today. Some of them wear the coveted four captain’s stripes and steer the fleet into the future.”
emphasizes Vienna Holding managing director Kurt Gollowitzer.
“For its 30th anniversary, the DDSG Blue Danube is launching completely new products with which we want to offer the Viennese new experiences on the Danube and moments of happiness on the ship. The popular themed trips are being expanded to include culinary and cultural highlights that will make you want to go on a boat trip. We are weighing anchor to set course for the anniversary year with attractive and innovative offers.”
announces DDSG Blue Danube managing director Wolfgang Fischer an.
“The successful entry into the fleet of the MS Austria and MS Vienna allows for an even stronger start to the season this year. DDSG Blue Danube will consistently invest in modernizing the fleet in 2025. We are taking the anniversary of the ‘new’ DDSG Blue Danube as an opportunity to realize future-oriented projects together with our crew on water and on land.”
says DDSG Blue Danube managing director Wolfgang Hanreich.
Growth course in the Wachau
With new offers, a harmonized timetable and forward-looking tourism cooperations, the number of passengers in the Wachau rose by a remarkable 46 percent to 129,024 passengers who rediscovered the region with its picturesque towns and historical sights from the Danube. The start was with the special trips to the idyllic apricot blossom, which are also on the program this year. The shipping company, owned by VERKEHRSBUERO and Wien Holding, also grew by five percent in the charter business: the DDSG Blue Danube ships set off 195 times for company celebrations, weddings and other festivities. 125 themed trips – from sunset barbecue cruises to Heurigen cruises to après-ski parties on the ship – proved to be a magnet for the local audience and brought highlights for every taste to the Danube. In cross-border traffic, the inland shipping company connected the two Danube metropolises of Vienna and Bratislava (Slovakia) 38 times.
Challenges caused by once-in-a-century floods
The DDSG Blue Danube had a total of more than 300,000 passengers last year. The historic previous year’s record of 2023 could not be set. The highest value was recorded in August 2024 with 51,404 passengers. The devastating flood of the century also presented river shipping with enormous challenges. The Danube was not navigable for several days and the Danube Canal in Vienna was not navigable for popular scheduled services for several weeks.
In another exceptional situation, DDSG Blue Danube proved to be a strong partner in the region. After the serious rock fall between the Lower Austrian communities of Aggsbach-Dorf and Aggstein, a stop was set up in Aggsbach-Dorf in cooperation with Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus in order to maintain the tourist connection to the destination, which is popular with locals and tourists alike.
Further information on ddsg-blue-danube.at