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April 2, 2025

The United Waterways Group is the leading independent provider of white-label ship management for passenger vessels on all waters, offering an innovative business model that meets the needs of the entire maritime sector. With its wide range of services, the group ensures efficient and personalized vessel management.

United Waterways‘ roots trace back to 2004, and in 2019, the company was consolidated under its current name, with its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Today, the group is the leading European player in passenger vessel management, operating both on rivers and oceans through a strong and diversified organizational structure.

The white-label management model allows United Waterways to operate its vessels on behalf of major brands, preserving the identity and image of its clients. In addition to management services, the group also owns a fleet of event and excursion vessels, strategically positioned in tourist destinations such as London, Amsterdam, Dresden, and Cologne. These vessels serve as floating stages, perfect for corporate events and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) activities. With the shipping company Starling Fleet, the Group operates over 40 white-label river cruise ships for international tour operators.

United Waterways stands out as a comprehensive provider of white-label solutions for B2B clients, such as shipowners and maritime service providers, offering a wide range of services in a “one-stop-shop” style. The expertise spans from onboard hotel and catering management to the technical nautical sector, covering every operational and organizational aspect related to navigation. The company manages and rents out a diversified fleet of river vessels and event boats, operating at over 100 docking points along rivers, in addition to two major port facilities. Currently, the company employs over 4’000 people.

It manages white-label vessels for partners, contributing to about 2.5 million passenger overnights, with an additional two million from its event boats. A distinguishing feature of United Waterways‘ business model is that it operates behind the scenes, fully identifying itself with the products and brands of its clients.

The River Advice Group brings together a wide range of white-label services for river navigation in Europe under a single umbrella, covering every operational and management aspect. These services include administration, consultancy, ship and crew management, navigation, technology, safety and security, continuous training, insurance management, support for construction and conversion, as well as hospitality and catering. River Advice is the benchmark for inland river navigation, and its counterpart for ocean navigation is Ocean Advice, which provides similar solutions for passenger vessels operating on the oceans. With a highly specialized team of experts in deep-sea ship management and service providers, the company ensures a comprehensive range of white-label services for the management of passenger vessels operating in ocean waters. This structure allows for tailor-made solutions for international brands, ensuring quality and service customization both in inland and ocean waters.

United Waterways’ portfolio includes:

– River Advice Group, a leading provider of management services for river vessels in Europe.
– Ocean Advice, the division specializing in passenger vessel management for the ocean cruise market.
– Floating Venues, which includes prestigious brands such as KD, Oceandiva, Weiße Flotte Sachsen, and Thames -Luxury Charters, specializing in events and experiences on luxury vessels in major European cities.
– Starling Fleet, which offers river cruise ship rental solutions for international tour operators.

Floating Venues, the United Waterways division dedicated to events, offers a fleet of 35 ships that create spectacular settings in the most captivating cities in Europe. From a night cruise in London to an exclusive event during the Cologne Carnival, from a product launch with the modern skyline of Rotterdam to a journey through the romantic “blue hour” atmosphere in Dresden, the possibilities are almost endless. The variety of the fleet reflects the diversity of events that can be hosted: from KD, a historic institution on the Rhine with modern ships for corporate and private events, to Oceandiva, the first event venue on water fully powered by electricity, perfect for product launches and corporate celebrations in an exclusive environment. Weiße Flotte Sachsen boasts the world’s largest and oldest fleet of paddle steamers, with nine historic vessels and two modern event ships offering unforgettable panoramic experiences on the Elbe River. In addition, Feenstra Rijn Lijn offers scenic river cruises from Arnhem along Europe’s most picturesque waterways, such as the Rhine, Moselle, and Danube, ensuring comfort and authentic experiences. Finally, with over 30 years of experience, Thames Luxury Charters offers luxury charter cruises on the Thames for exclusive events, including weddings, private parties, and corporate events, all accompanied by top-level service and the unique backdrop of London.

Starling Fleet is a versatile shipowner group that manages a diversified fleet of over 40 river cruise vessels on the main European rivers. Specializing in customized rentals, Starling Fleet tailors each vessel to the specific needs of tour operators, ensuring that the onboard experience perfectly reflects the brand identity. Already operational for major European and U.S. tour operators, these vessels offer service standards ranging from mid-range to premium, catering to a broad spectrum of needs in the river cruise sector.

The success of United Waterways is made possible by a team of highly qualified and passionate professionals dedicated to elevating and strengthening clients’ brands in the cruise market. Each team member contributes their expertise, creating a dynamic and synergistic environment. By working together, the company maximizes its potential to ensure that every client receives a high-level, customized, and strategic service.

Thanks to modular and flexible services, the company is able to respond quickly to industry challenges and market changes. This approach has made United Waterways a market leader and drives the company to explore new destinations beyond Europe, expanding opportunities for clients while ensuring cutting-edge services, infrastructure, and operations.

The vision is to transform the maritime world. To achieve this, the company is implementing global ship management and assistance, making it accessible to everyone. The goal is to ensure that companies in the river, maritime, and freight transport sectors can operate safely, reliably, and successfully.

United Waterways is also taking a leading role in addressing the ecological transition in the river and maritime navigation sectors, responding to the challenges posed by increasingly stringent European regulations. The company is actively working on designing new vessels and investing in innovative, sustainable solutions for the future of the industry, with the aim of contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission’s Fit for 55 package, which calls for a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, is an ambitious target that will impact all sectors, including European inland navigation. In this context, the Naiades III plan, which regulates European river navigation, is expected to impact around 16,000 vessels, of which more than 350 are dedicated to river cruises.

Sascha Gill, CEO of United Waterways, stated that these new regulations will have a significant impact on inland navigation, and the company is ready to face the challenge with solutions that not only meet environmental goals but also respond to the growing sustainability demands of the industry. To this end, United Waterways is leading the transition to more eco-friendly and sustainable navigation by experimenting with and adopting advanced technologies.

In recent years, the new generations of ships have greatly improved energy efficiency, but the real challenge will be to completely replace marine diesel, which is still the primary fuel used for river vessels. The transition to low-emission solutions is critical to achieving the European Union’s ambitious climate goals. The company is investing in a range of technologies, such as advanced purification systems, high-efficiency engines, and onboard electricity solutions. The use of batteries to manage peak consumption and recharging with shore power during port stops are other key strategies that United Waterways is promoting. While 60% of the major river ports in Europe are already equipped with infrastructure for electric refueling, the company is working to ensure that these technologies are universally available in all strategic ports by 2030.

Beyond alternative fuels like electricity and biofuels, United Waterways is exploring the potential of new climate-neutral synthetic fuels, such as methanol and hydrogen, to further reduce CO₂ emissions. These solutions are already being tested and could become the foundation for the future of river navigation, although their large-scale application will still take time. Despite these innovations, energy efficiency remains a top priority, which is why United Waterways is also optimizing ship designs to reduce water resistance and improve the efficiency of onboard systems such as heating, lighting, and cooking.

According to Gill, every liter of fuel saved is an important step not only in reducing environmental impact but also in improving the economic efficiency of the entire sector. United Waterways is determined to pursue these goals with advanced technological solutions, ensuring that river navigation can operate safely, sustainably, and with a reduced impact. With its commitment to developing new technologies and innovative solutions, United Waterways is contributing to building the future of navigation, making it more sustainable and ready to face tomorrow’s environmental challenges.

United Waterwayspresents itself at international trade shows under the theme “Tourism and Events on the Water – Your Gateway to the Cruise Market.” The group positions itself as a consultant for companies looking to enter the river and ocean cruise markets, offering a clear roadmap toward sustainability.

The group presents a modular investment program aimed at building 12 eco-friendly passenger vessels, designed to operate in both river and marine waters. Additionally, the group’s subsidiaries have already received prestigious recognition for their commitment to sustainability. Along with the river vessels, an expedition cruise vessel and a coastal cruise ship are planned, expected to be available by 2028. In line with sustainability goals, the ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines, special electric motors, and single-fuel carbon-neutral energy sources.

This new generation of river vessels, with a draft of less than 1.3 meters, will be able to operate in shallow waters and switch fuels while navigating, thus reducing environmental impact. Energy efficiency measures, which apply to both the hull design and the interiors of the vessels, will help keep operating costs low and comply with local regulations. Furthermore, investors and partners in the river cruise industry will have the opportunity to order customizable and modular ships directly from United Waterways. The new vessels will be integrated into the Starling Fleet, one of the most modern fleets in the industry.

According to Dr. Sascha Gill this significant investment marks a key milestone in the journey towards a more sustainable and future-oriented river cruise industry. In this context, United Waterways reaffirms its position as one of the leading players in the sector, not only with its innovative solutions but also with a tangible commitment to a greener and more responsible future in the river and ocean cruise industries.

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Giorgia Lombardo

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