SAB Foundation Waste & Shipping Documents Inland Shipping

What SAB Foundation Waste & Shipping Documents Inland Shipping does

SAB Foundation Waste & Shipping Documents Inland Shipping (Stichting Afvalstoffen & Vaardocumenten Binnenvaart, or SAB) is a Dutch foundation designated as the public authority for official vessel documentation and waste management in the Dutch inland shipping sector, operating under the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water State. Established as a Stichting and headquartered in Rotterdam with 11-50 employees, SAB executes two principal functions: (1) issuing official navigational documents - service books (Dienstboekjes), sailing time logbooks (Vaartijdenboek), oil discharge books (Olieafgifteboek) and sailing time declarations (Vaartijdverklaringen) for ADN, LNG, Rhine patents, and tour boat operators - recognized across European and CCR waterways; and (2) administering waste management for inland vessels through the ECO-rekening environmental contribution system (€12 per m³ of gas oil as of 2026), tiered annual waste subscriptions (€215-€332 per ship), and a nationwide network of environmental boats and containers.

SAB's technology stack is built around three proprietary digital platforms. CrewCompass (formerly iiSR) is a crew administration and registration platform providing crew members access to their personal sailing time, diplomas and qualifications, while enabling ship owners to automate registrations and authorizations via a personal pass. ShipAssist, developed in partnership with ShipLogic and launched in July 2024, is a mobile application for port facility management, container opening and berth registration, using the STIW standardized interface to enable cross-harbor interoperability. The ECO-rekening system, linked to each ship via ECO-ID, integrates with the CDNI App for digital payment of waste removal fees. SAB is ISO 9001 certified continuously since 1999, most recently renewed for three years in March 2026 by LRQA.

SAB monetizes primarily through regulated, per-transaction and per-period fees: one-time issuance fees for vessel documents (€42.02-€95.73 per item), annual waste subscriptions, and usage-based environmental contributions. Distribution runs through a physical counter at Rotterdam (by appointment), a webshop (sab-webshop.nl), postal services, and digital portals (Mijn SAB, CDNI portal). Customer satisfaction is reported at 7.3/10. Ownership is via a Raad van Toezicht (Supervisory Board), with wholly-owned operating subsidiaries SAB Maritime Services B.V. and SAB MS BV. SAB is governed by the European CDNI treaty framework, the Central Commission for the Rhine, and the Dutch CBR and ILT authorities.

Name

SAB Foundation Waste & Shipping Documents Inland Shipping

Legal name

Stichting Afvalstoffen & Vaardocumenten Binnenvaart

Website

https://sabni.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAB is a Dutch public authority foundation that issues official vessel documents and administers waste management services for the entire Dutch inland shipping fleet under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Administration Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTLAHAIAH

Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Marine Salvage, Wreck Removal & Emergency Response

SECONDARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Inland shipping documents
• Maritime waste management
• Vessel documentation services
• Waste collection network
• Environmental compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vessel Document Fees: Fees collected for issuance and processing of vessel documents including service books (dienstboekjes), sailing time books (vaartijdenboek), oil discharge books (olieafgifteboek), and sailing time declarations (vaartijdverklaringen). Documents are issued for both initial issuance and renewals.
2. Waste Subscription Services: Annual subscription fees for household waste and hazardous waste collection services for inland shipping vessels. Subscribers receive access to closed waste containers and environmental boats throughout the Netherlands. Three tiers available with varying waste allowances.
3. ECO-rekening Environmental Contribution: Environmental management contribution paid per cubic meter of bunkered gas oil (€12 per m3 as of 2026). This fee finances the collection and processing of oil and fat-containing ship waste. Administered through eco-account system and CDNI app.
4. Protective Covers: Sale of protective covers for service books, oil discharge books and sailing time books. Sold via webshop, mail or at the counter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAB is the designated Dutch public authority issuing official vessel documents (dienstboekjes, vaartijdenboek, olieafgifteboek, vaartijdverklaringen) required by European and CCR regulations for inland shipping operators and crew, and operates a nationwide waste collection network with environmental boats and containers. The organization also administers the ECO-rekening environmental contribution system for oil and fat-containing waste under the CDNI treaty, supported by digital platforms including CrewCompass and ShipAssist.

Product overview

SAB (Stichting Afvalstoffen & Vaardocumenten Binnenvaart) is a Dutch public-sector organization executing government-mandated tasks for the inland navigation sector on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water State. Its portfolio consists of two core pillars: (1) Official navigational documents — Dienstboekjes (service books), Vaartijdenboek (sailing time logbooks), Olieafgifteboekje (oil discharge books), and Vaartijdverklaringen (sailing time declarations) — issued under both CCR and EU frameworks; and (2) Waste management services — the ECO-rekening (eco account) for CDNI waste contribution payments,Abonnement Restafval (waste subscription plans), and a nationwide Inzamelnetwerk (collection network) of milieuboten (environmental boats) and containers. Digital extensions include the ShipAssist mobile app (port facility management), CrewCompass (crew administration), and the VoortVarend Besparen e-learning platform (fuel efficiency). The Scheepsmilieuplan toolkit and Binnenvaart Emissielabel are also offered as supporting sustainability resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CrewCompass: Digital platform for inland shipping crew administration and registration, formerly known as iiSR. Provides crew members access to their personal data registered with SAB.
• ShipAssist
• VoortVarend Besparen

Products and services

• Dienstboekjes (Service Books) Official service books for inland navigation crew members (deckhands through to skipper) that register qualifications, sailing time, and competency certificates. Required by law for all professional inland shipping crew operating on European and CCR waterways.
• Vaartijdenboek (Sailing Time Book)

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer satisfaction score of 7.3 out of 10, with particular praise for staff expertise, processing speed, and service improvement over recent years
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ShipLogiccoreTechnology or Integration · 31 July 2024Partnership for development and operation of ShipAssist mobile application. ShipAssist enables management of port facilities, container opening, and berth registration. The app uses standardized interface from Stichting Innovatieve Waterwegen (STIW) enabling interoperability across different port systems.
• STIW (Stichting Innovatieve Waterwegen)coreTechnology or Integration · 31 July 2024STIW develops standardized interfaces for digital port facility connections. ShipAssist uses this standardized interface allowing different hardware and software suppliers to communicate seamlessly with port facilities.
• CBR (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023CBR is the Dutch authority for professional driving and sailing certifications. SAB coordinates with CBR for qualification certificates and examinations for inland shipping crew members including deckhands, mates, and skippers.
• CDNI (Commission Internationale pour la Protection du Rhin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011CDNI is the international body governing waste management in inland navigation. SAB participates in the waste collection network for oil and fat-containing waste substances. Environmental contribution collected via ECO-rekening system.
• ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch human environment and transport inspectorate. Receives vessel data from SAB including sailing time book information for regulatory oversight.
• SAB Maritime Services BVcoreTechnology or IntegrationWholly-owned subsidiary handling specific operational services. Receives vessel data from SAB including sailing time book and waste subscription information.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• CBR (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheden): Dutch public authority for professional driving and sailing certifications. Directly comparable in its role of issuing official qualification certificates and administering competency examinations for inland shipping crew members — a core SAB activity.
• Stichting Innovatieve Waterwegen (STIW): Dutch foundation developing standardized digital interfaces for port facilities. Comparable as an adjacent public-sector foundation operating in the same inland shipping digital ecosystem; provides the interoperability layer that SAB's ShipAssist depends on.
• Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR/CCR): International intergovernmental body governing Rhine navigation, including the qualification frameworks for service books and patents that SAB administers. Directly comparable as the upstream regulator whose standards SAB implements in the Netherlands.
• Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT): Dutch human environment and transport inspectorate. Comparable as a regulatory counterpart that receives vessel and crew data from SAB for oversight, and that jointly governs compliance frameworks for inland shipping.
• Havenbedrijf Rotterdam (Port of Rotterdam): Port authority for Europe's largest port, including inland shipping terminal operations. Comparable as a Dutch public entity that interacts with the same inland shipping ecosystem, including waste management, port facility access, and digital vessel services.
• Koninklijke BLN-Schuttevaer: Royal Dutch association for inland shipping operators and owners. Comparable as the principal industry counterpart SAB engages with on regulatory matters, qualification rules, and crew certification frameworks.

Regional players

• Voies Navigables de France (VNF): French public operator of the inland waterway network. Functions as the public authority administering inland shipping infrastructure and rules in France — directly comparable in regulatory mandate to SAB's Dutch role, though operating in a larger geography.
• Renewi: Listed European waste management company with operations in the Netherlands and Belgium. Comparable as a competitor/adjacent operator in waste collection, including potential collection of oily and fatty ship waste that SAB currently administers.
• De Vlaamse Waterweg: Flemish waterway authority responsible for managing inland navigation infrastructure and regulations in Belgium. Comparable as a national/regional public authority overseeing inland shipping compliance, similar in mandate to SAB's Dutch regulatory role.

Direct peers

• IVR (Europees Binnenvaart): European inland shipping industry umbrella organization representing operators across multiple countries. Most directly comparable to SAB in advocating for and administering the inland shipping sector at a continental level, including coordination on documentation and environmental rules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sab-stichting-afvalstoffen-&-vaardocumenten-binnenvaart
• Xx.com/SABNINL

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAB Foundation Waste & Shipping Documents Inland Shipping