Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes

What Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes does

Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV) is a German federal government agency under the Federal Ministry of Transport, headquartered in Bonn, with operations coordinated by the Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt (GDWS). It is the statutory authority responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing Germany's federal waterway network, with roles as Strompolizei- und Bauaufsichtsbehörde, Schifffahrtspolizeibehörde, and Planfeststellungsbehörde. WSV manages an infrastructure base comprising 295 lock systems, 293 weirs, three ship lifts, 1,026 road and railway bridges, two dams, approximately 29,870 fixed and 11,300 floating navigation marks, and a modern multi-purpose vessel fleet (SCHARHÖRN, MELLUM, NEUWERK, ARKONA) for 24/7 emergency response in the North and Baltic Seas.

WSV's core digital products include ELWIS (Electronic Waterway Information Service) for navigation notices and regulations, PEGELONLINE for real-time hydrological data with REST-API and Open Data exposure, and EuRIS (European River Information Services) for cross-border navigation. Supporting services include traffic control centers (Verkehrszentralen and Revierzentralen), the FiBi online subsidy application system, an online participation portal for plan approval procedures, and visitor Infozentren at major infrastructure sites. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is deployed for infrastructure projects. The agency delivers services through approximately 17 Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsämter, 8 Wasserstraßen-Neubauämter, three vocational training centers, and digital channels.

WSV's business model is non-commercial: it is funded primarily through the German federal budget, supplemented by regulated shipping fees (Schifffahrtsabgaben) for lock usage and waterway access. Customer segments span professional commercial shipping companies, port and logistics operators, recreational boaters, offshore industry (including offshore wind), and environmental NGOs collaborating on ecological waterway improvement under the Blaues Band Deutschland program. Ownership is wholly by the Federal Republic of Germany, with no external equity, private capital, or venture involvement.

Name

Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes

Legal name

Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes

Website

https://gdws.wsv.bund.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV) is the German federal government agency under the Federal Ministry of Transport that operates, maintains, and regulates Germany's federal waterways and shipping traffic, managing locks, weirs, bridges, navigation marks, and a multi-purpose vessel fleet for commercial and recreational users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Waterway Administration

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

akta.pro primary industry

Navigation & Aids-to-Navigation Works (Beacons, Buoys, Markers) (IMAFAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maritime Single Window & Regulatory Reporting Systems (TLAHAOAB), Navigation, Communications & Integrated Bridge Systems Engineering (IMAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Federal waterway management
• Inland shipping regulation
• Maritime traffic control
• Navigation infrastructure services
• Waterway maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices55 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Schifffahrtsabgaben (Shipping Fees): The WSV collects shipping fees and charges for the use of federal waterways, including lock usage, navigation marks, and other infrastructure services
2. Government Budget: Funded through the federal budget of the German government, with expenditures for operation, maintenance, and development of waterways infrastructure

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WSV operates and maintains Germany's federal waterway infrastructure, including 295 locks, 293 weirs, 3 ship lifts, 1,026 bridges, and navigation marking systems. It provides 24/7 maritime traffic control, water level information via PEGELONLINE, regulatory information via ELWIS, and emergency response through four modern multi-purpose vessels. The agency also issues permits, licenses, and shipping fees (Schifffahrtsabgaben) for waterway users including commercial shipping companies and recreational boaters.

Product overview

Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV) is a German federal agency operating a comprehensive waterway management system. The core digital products include ELWIS (Electronic Waterway Information Service) providing operational navigation information, PEGELONLINE offering real-time water level data and forecasts via REST-API, and EuRIS (European River Information Services) for international waterway information. The infrastructure portfolio includes 295 locks, 293 weirs, three ship lifts, and approximately 1,026 bridges. The WSV fleet consists of modern multi-purpose vessels (SCHARHÖRN, MELLUM, NEUWERK, ARKONA) providing 24/7 safety operations in North and Baltic Seas. Supporting services include traffic control centers, navigation marking, FiBi subsidy application system, and an online participation portal for infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ELWIS: Elektronischer Wasserstraßen-Informationsservice - electronic waterway information service for inland shipping
• PEGELONLINE
• Mehrzweckschiffe (MZS)

Products and services

• ELWIS (Elektronischer Wasserstraßen-Informationsservice) Electronic waterway information service providing news, regulations, lock operating times, and operational information for inland navigation. Targeted at professional shipping companies and inland waterway users.
• PEGELONLINE Hydrological information system providing real-time water level data and forecasts for federal waterways as REST-API and Open Data, serving shipping, disaster management teams, power plant operators, and media companies.
• EuRIS (European River Information Services) European inland waterway information portal providing navigation-related information across European waterways, enabling cross-border waterway information access for international shipping operators.
• Verkehrszentralen und Revierzentralen (Traffic Control Centers) Round-the-clock traffic monitoring, advisory services, and maritime police intervention at sea waterways and inland waterway control centers serving commercial shipping operators.
• Schleusen und Hebewerke (Locks and Ship Lifts Operations) Operation and maintenance of 295 lock systems, 293 weirs, three ship lifts, 1,026 road and railway bridges, and two dams, providing navigation passage services to commercial and recreational waterway users.
• Schifffahrtsabgaben (Shipping Fee Administration) Statutory shipping fee collection for the use of federal waterways, including lock usage, navigation marks, and other infrastructure services, regulated by law and applicable to commercial shipping companies and recreational boaters.
• Mehrzweckschiffe (Multi-Purpose Vessels) Safety Operations Four modern multi-purpose vessels (SCHARHÖRN, MELLUM, NEUWERK, ARKONA) providing 24/7 safety operations in North and Baltic Seas, including emergency towing, oil/chemical/fire response capabilities for commercial shipping, offshore industry, and environmental protection.
• FiBi (Förderung in der Binnenschifffahrt) Online Subsidy System IT system for online applications for subsidies in inland shipping, enabling inland shipping companies to apply for funding electronically.
• Beteiligungsportal (Online Participation Portal) Online participation portal for transport and offshore projects enabling online planning approval procedures and public participation for citizens, businesses, and regulatory bodies.
• Boat Registration and Licensing Services Boat registration, license issuance, and waterway access services provided through regional Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsämter offices for recreational boaters and sports boat owners.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Environmental organization collaborating with GDWS on ecological improvement of federal waterways. Signed Memorandum of Understanding on World Water Day 2026 to strengthen cooperation on environmental protection initiatives along waterways.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Environmental organization collaborating with GDWS on ecological improvement of federal waterways. Part of the signed MoU to advance environmental protection along German federal waterways.
• WWF DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Environmental organization collaborating with GDWS on ecological improvement of federal waterways. Included in the trilateral MoU to strengthen cooperation for ecological development of federal waterways.
• ITZBund (Informationstechnikzentrum Bund)coreTechnology or IntegrationFederal IT service center that developed and expanded the PEGELONLINE system with new features including REST-API and Open Data for official water level forecasts.
• German Naval YardsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerShipyard that built the new multi-purpose vessel SCHARHÖRN for the WSV fleet, one of the most modern operational ships in Europe.
• Havariekommando (Maritime Emergency Command)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint exercises and emergency response coordination with WSV vessels for offshore incidents including fire simulation, oil spills, and rescue operations in wind farms.
• Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG)coreTechnology or IntegrationFederal Institute of Hydrology providing water level forecasts used in PEGELONLINE system for official predictions on federal waterways.
• WIGES GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrastructure company preparing construction implementation for Danube expansion project between Deggendorf and Vilshofen as part of the plan approval process.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Voies Navigables de France (VNF): VNF is France's national public operator of the inland waterway network, managing ~6,700 km of navigable waterways, locks, navigation marks and river information services. As a national inland waterway authority delivering the same mix of infrastructure operation, traffic management and digital services (e.g., SIF), it is the closest functional peer to WSV in another major European market.
• De Vlaamse Waterweg nv: De Vlaamse Waterweg is the Flemish (Belgium) autonomous waterway authority operating locks, bridges, fairway markings and traffic control on Flemish inland waterways. It is a direct peer as another sub-national European waterway operator with infrastructure, traffic and digital service responsibilities like WSV.
• Rijkswaterstaat: Rijkswaterstaat is the Dutch agency under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management that manages national waterways, locks, bridges and traffic management, including the Rhine delta. Comparable in mandate to WSV, it combines inland navigation support with broader waterway and network management.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): USACE operates and maintains the U.S. federal navigation infrastructure on inland and coastal waterways, including locks, dams, channels and aids-to-navigation, and publishes hydrographic/operational data. Its federal mission, fleet and infrastructure scale closely mirror WSV's role across German Bundeswasserstraßen.

Others

• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): EMSA is an EU regulatory agency that supports Member States on maritime safety, security and vessel traffic. It is thematically adjacent as a public regulator that overlaps with WSV's maritime safety and reporting functions, and is the natural counterpart for cross-border digital services such as EuRIS.
• Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG): BfG is the German Federal Institute of Hydrology, a Bundesbehörde under the same ministry as WSV that provides water-level forecasts and hydrological expertise feeding into PEGELONLINE. It is an enabling/partner organisation rather than a competitor, reflecting a division of labour with WSV.

Regional players

• UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency: UK MCA is a UK government agency under the Department for Transport that regulates maritime safety, including vessel traffic and aids-to-navigation on a defined national network. Although primarily seagoing, its enforcement, licensing and national maritime operations broadly parallel WSV's regulatory and traffic management role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/pages/wasserstraszen-und-schifffahrtsverwaltung-des-bundes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WSV_de
• Facebookfacebook.com/WSV.de
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/wasserstrassen-und-schifffahrtsverwaltung-des-bundes
• Instagraminstagram.com/wsv.de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries30 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 Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes