Bahart

What Bahart does

Bahart (legal entity: Balatoni Hajózási Zrt.) is a Hungarian state-owned lake shipping company founded in 1846, operating passenger ferry, scheduled boat, cruise, marina, and event charter services on Lake Balaton. It is the sole operator of the Szántódrév-Tihanyrév ferry crossing, which runs 365 days per year at 30-minute intervals with 8-minute crossing times, and controls 16 passenger ports and 10 sailing marinas spanning the entire lake shoreline across Somogy, Veszprém, and Zala counties. The company's fleet comprises roughly 23 vessels across three categories: modern passenger catamarans and motor boats, vehicle ferries, and historic nostalgia ships (including vessels launched in 1891 and 1913). In 2024, the fleet was expanded with 2 new ferries and 2 new catamarans, and a major redevelopment of the Szántódrév and Tihanyrév ferry terminals is underway for 2025-2026, introducing digital traffic management, e-lane processing, and advance ticketing.

Bahart's revenue is generated across multiple streams: per-trip transaction fees on ferry crossings, scheduled inter-settlement boats, and cruise/sightseeing tours; professional services revenue from event boat charters (weddings, corporate events, team-building); recurring subscription revenue from marina berth rentals and the BAHART Kártya loyalty prepaid card (12-20% discounts on ferry services); licensing revenue from ship and property advertising; and ancillary revenue from maritime training (CESNI-compliant certifications) and technical ship services (repair, design, expert witness work). The go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer with multi-channel ticketing through physical port box offices, the online platform jegy.bahart.hu, and automated vending machines at harbors, supplemented by partnerships with 17+ regional tourism platforms, wineries, breweries, event organizers, and municipalities. Customer segments include tourists and day visitors, commuters using the ferry crossing, event planners, and sailing enthusiasts.

Ownership rests with the Hungarian State via Magyar Turisztikai Ügynökség (Hungarian Tourism Agency) alongside Balaton Region municipalities (Balaton Régió önkormányzatai) that hold public passenger port ownership, positioning BAHART as critical regional tourism and transportation infrastructure. Operational certifications include ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 50001 (energy management). No AI/ML capabilities are present in the technology stack; digital infrastructure is limited to online scheduling, live camera feeds, and conventional e-ticketing. The company employs direct sales for enterprise/corporate charter events and multi-channel digital marketing including social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), a seasonal "Hello BAHART" magazine, and its primary website bahart.hu.

Name

Bahart

Legal name

Balatoni Hajózási Zrt.

Website

https://bahart.hu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1846

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bahart (Balatoni Hajózási Zrt.) is a Hungarian state-owned lake shipping company operating ferry, scheduled boat, cruise, and marina services across Lake Balaton's 16 passenger ports and 10 sailing marinas, serving tourists, commuters, event planners, and sailing enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lake Passenger Transportation Services

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Speed Passenger Ferry Operators (TLAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Passenger Catamaran Operators (TLAFALAE), River Cruise Charters (Private/Group) (THAEACAE)

Keywords

• Lake passenger transport
• Ferry crossing services
• Cruise and sightseeing tours
• Sailboat marina services
• Maritime event charter

Headquarters

HQ city

Siófok

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ferry Services (Komp): Vehicle and passenger ferry crossing between Szántódrév and Tihanyrév operating 365 days/year with 30-minute intervals. Revenue from per-trip passenger and vehicle tickets.
2. Scheduled Passenger Boats: Inter-settlement scheduled boat services connecting Lake Balaton towns with regular timetables and fares.
3. Cruise and Sightseeing Tours: Nostalgia boats, cruise boats, sunset cruises, and themed program cruises (party boat, chill boat, child boat) with ticket sales.
4. Boat Rental for Events: Boat charter services for weddings, corporate events, conferences, team building, and private celebrations with catering options.
5. Sailing Marina Operations: Berth rental services at 10 sailing ports across Lake Balaton. Berth tenants can use all BAHART ports free of charge during sailing tours.
6. Advertising and Property Rental: Rental of advertising space on ships and property/space rental services.
7. BAHART Card Loyalty Program: Prepaid card with balances of 50,000 Ft (12% discount), 100,000 Ft (15% discount), and 250,000 Ft (20% discount) for ferry services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BAHART (Balatoni Hajózási Zrt.) operates passenger and vehicle ferry services, scheduled boat routes, sightseeing cruises, and themed program boats across Lake Balaton in Hungary. The company manages a mixed fleet of modern catamarans, vehicle ferries, and historic nostalgia ships serving 16 passenger ports and 10 sailing marinas, and offers event charter services for weddings, corporate events, conferences, and team-building activities, supported by maritime training and technical services.

Product overview

Bahart (Balatoni Hajózási Zrt.) operates as a traditional lake shipping company on Lake Balaton with nearly 180 years of history. The company offers a multi-layered service portfolio built around three core pillars: (1) Passenger transportation via scheduled boats connecting 16 ports around the lake, and the Szántód-Tihany ferry crossing; (2) Cruise and program services including regular cruise boats, nostalgia boats (some over 130 years old), party boats, children's/magic boats, chill boats, and special themed events; and (3) Event boat charter for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations. Supporting services include management of 10 sailboat ports, professional maritime training, ship technical services, a loyalty card (BAHART Kártya), and an online ticket platform. The fleet spans three categories: historic nostalgia boats (Jókai, Helka, Kelén, Csobánc, Csongor, Tünde), modern passenger catamarans and motor boats (Balaton, Tomaj, Siófok, Füred, Badacsony, Szent Miklós, etc.), and vehicle ferries. Recent fleet additions include 2 new catamarans and 2 new ferries in 2024. The company is undertaking a major infrastructure redevelopment of the Szántódrév and Tihanyrév ferry terminals (2025-2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Szántód-Tihany Ferry Service (Komp) The sole ferry crossing on Lake Balaton, connecting Szántódrév and Tihanyrév. Operates 365 days per year, transporting vehicles and passengers across the lake with an 8-minute crossing time and 30-minute intervals during peak season.
• Scheduled Passenger Boat Routes (Menetrendi hajó)

Quantifiable outcome

• Ferry crossing takes only 8 minutes between Szántódrév and Tihanyrév
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Magyar Turisztikai Ügynökség (Hungarian Tourism Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment tourism agency representing the Hungarian State as majority owner. Works with BAHART on tourism development and promotion of Lake Balaton as a destination.
• Balaton Régió ÖnkormányzataicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipalities of the Lake Balaton Region with public passenger port ownership, partnering on regional tourism and shipping services.
• Magyar Turisztikai SzövetségminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHungarian Tourism Federation for industry collaboration and policy alignment.
• Balatonalmádi VárosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipality partnership for tourism promotion in Balatonalmádi area.
• Keszthely VárosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipality partnership for tourism promotion in Keszthely area.
• Balaton CsavargőzösminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with the historic steamship experience for Lake Balaton tourism.
• BalatonBike365minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCycling tourism partnership supporting multi-modal travel combining cycling and boat transport.
• Balatonfüred Turisztikai EgyesületminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism association partnership for Balatonfüred region promotion.
• Balatoni KörminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLake Balaton interest organization partnership.
• Dobosi PincészetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine tourism collaboration featuring wine tastings and vineyard experiences accessible by boat.
• Garamvári SzőlőbirtokminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine tourism partnership for wine-related cruises and tastings.
• Laposa BirtokminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine tourism partnership for Lake Balaton wine region experiences.
• Hedon SörfőzdeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCraft brewery partnership for gastronomic events and tastings.
• Next FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station partnership for event promotion and media coverage.
• Szallas.huminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHungarian accommodation platform partnership covering restaurants, program recommendations, and beaches.
• VisitBalaton365minorGTM or Marketing PartnerYear-round Lake Balaton tourism promotion platform.
• Hello HungaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHungary tourism promotion platform partnership.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN): CGN operates scheduled passenger boats, sightseeing cruises, and dining/event cruises on Lake Geneva spanning Swiss and French shores, with a heritage fleet including Belle Époque vessels — highly comparable to BAHART's mix of nostalgia ships, scheduled routes, and event charters on a single large lake.
• Navigazione Laghi Maggiore: Navigazione Laghi Maggiore operates scheduled passenger boats and car ferries on Lake Maggiore and other Italian lakes, combining year-round car ferry crossings with sightseeing cruises across multiple ports — analogous to BAHART's only-ferry monopoly plus cruise portfolio on Lake Balaton.
• BLS Schifffahrt: BLS Schifffahrt operates scheduled passenger boats, sightseeing cruises, and historic paddle steamer services on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in Switzerland, combining heritage vessels with scheduled routes and event charters — comparable to BAHART's nostalgia-ships-meets-modern-fleet approach on Lake Balaton.
• Bayerische Seenschifffahrt: Bayerische Seenschifffahrt operates passenger and sightseeing shipping on multiple Bavarian lakes (Starnberger See, Ammersee, Tegernsee, Chiemsee) with combined scheduled boats, sightseeing cruises, and event charters — directly comparable to BAHART's combined ferry/scheduled/cruise/event model on Lake Balaton.
• Weiße Flotte Bodensee: Weiße Flotte operates sightseeing and event cruises on Lake Constance from German ports, with themed programs (dinner cruises, music cruises, charter events) — comparable to BAHART's themed-cruise portfolio (Chill Boat, Party Boat, Children's Boat, wine cruises).
• Bodensee Schifffahrt (BSB): Bodensee Schifffahrt operates scheduled ferries, car ferries, and sightseeing cruises on Lake Constance across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — the closest European analogue to BAHART in combining year-round car-passenger ferry crossings, scheduled passenger routes, themed cruise programs, and a multi-port network on a single lake.
• Vorarlberg Lines: Vorarlberg Lines operates passenger and car ferry services on Lake Constance from the Austrian side, including scheduled crossings and themed cruise programs — a direct peer to BAHART's Szántód-Tihany ferry and Lake Balaton cruise operations.

Broad incumbents

• Stena Line: Stena Line operates large-scale international ferry services across the North Sea, Irish Sea, and Baltic Sea — a broader incumbent in passenger ferry operations with overlapping capability in route scheduling, ticketing platforms, and event-based passenger services, but operating at a fundamentally larger scale and on marine (not lake) routes.
• Viking Line: Viking Line operates passenger ferries with cruise-style onboard experiences across the Baltic Sea, including dining, entertainment, and themed programs — relevant as a broad incumbent in passenger water transport with onboard event/nightlife concepts comparable to BAHART's Party Boat and Chill Boat programs, though at much larger sea-going scale.

Regional players

• Mahart (Magyar Hajózási Zrt.): Mahart is the historic Hungarian state shipping company that historically operated alongside BAHART on the Danube and Lake Balaton, now focused primarily on river passenger services — relevant as a domestic peer sharing Hungarian state-ownership heritage and the same regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/balatonihajozasizrt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bahart
• Instagraminstagram.com/balatonihajozasizrt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bahart