State Navigation Authority

What State Navigation Authority does

State Navigation Authority (Státní plavební správa, SPS) is a Czech government administrative body established under Act No. 114/1995 Sb. on inland navigation, operating since 1991 (in its current statutory form since October 1995). With headquarters in Prague and regional branches in Děčín and Přerov, the authority exercises state supervision over all Czech inland waterways, including the Vltava, Labe (Elbe), Morava, Dyje, and Baťův kanál. It serves four primary customer segments: recreational and small vessel operators, commercial shipping operators, port and marina operators, and ferry operators, delivering services through both physical offices and digital channels including the Transport Portal (Portál dopravy), LAVDIS mobile application, Geoportal, and the EuRIS European portal.

The authority's core operations include vessel registration and documentation, technical inspections, competency certification examinations for vessel captains and crew, navigation supervision, and real-time information services through the LAVDIS River Information Services system, which incorporates Inland AIS (Automatic Identification System) and Inland ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) for vessel tracking and navigation safety. Since the 2019 mandate making AIS/ECDIS mandatory on certain waterway sections, SPS has progressively digitized citizen services: electronic submission via NIA authentication was piloted in 2020, the Portál dopravy launched in December 2022, and electronic application scope expanded significantly in 2023–2024 across both small vessel and professional operator categories. The Přerov branch holds ISO 9001 quality management certification.

SPS is funded through the Czech state budget rather than commercial revenue. Its income derives from regulated administrative fees under law 634/2004 Sb., including 2,000 CZK for port operation permits, 1,000 CZK for dock/wharf/mooring permits, and 2,000 CZK for small vessel rental permits, with a 20% discount for electronic submissions. The authority operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and holds statutory responsibility for approximately 50,000 competency certificates requiring replacement as of 2022. Internationally, SPS implements EU Directive 2017/2397 on recognition of professional qualifications, coordinates with the CCNR (Rhine Commission), and maintains bilateral agreements with Germany (GDWS, signed 2022) enabling Czech-language certification for German waterways.

Name

State Navigation Authority

Legal name

Státní plavební správa

Website

https://plavebniurad.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

State Navigation Authority (Státní plavební správa) is the Czech government administrative body regulating inland waterway navigation, operating three regional branches to issue vessel and crew certifications, conduct technical inspections, supervise navigation, and deliver digital river information services via LAVDIS and Portál dopravy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inland Waterway Navigation Regulation

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA), Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration (TLAHAFAI)

Keywords

• Inland waterway navigation
• Vessel registration services
• Maritime competency certification
• River information services
• Technical vessel inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Administrative Fees (Správní poplatky): The authority collects administrative fees for various services including port operation permits (2,000 CZK), dock/wharf/ moorings operation permits (1,000 CZK), small vessel rental permits (2,000 CZK), vessel certificate issuance, competency certificate issuance, and examinations. These fees are collected per fee schedule 634/2004 Sb. The fee for information provision varies: black and white copies A4: 2 CZK single-sided, color copies A4: 20 CZK single-sided, with discounts for electronic submission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The State Navigation Authority (Státní plavební správa) is the Czech government administrative body that regulates and supervises inland waterway navigation. It conducts vessel registration, technical inspections, operator competency examinations, and certification for captains and crew; manages the LAVDIS River Information Services system with mobile app, AIS vessel tracking, and electronic navigation charts; and operates the Portál dopravy electronic submission portal for administrative permits and licenses.

Product overview

State Navigation Authority (Státní plavební správa - SPS) is a Czech government navigation authority providing regulatory, informational, and digital services for inland waterway navigation. The core digital offering consists of the LAVDIS River Information Services system (including the LAVDIS mobile app), the Electronic Submission System via Portál dopravy, Navigation Maps/Geoportal, and the Technical Inspection Reservation System. SPS also participates in the European EuRIS portal. Supporting services include vessel and person document processing, examinations for captain and crew qualifications, waterway supervision, and annual Navigation Yearbook publications. The agency operates three regional branches (Prague, Děčín, Přerov) and provides both in-person and electronic service channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LAVDIS mobile: Mobile application providing information about waterways in the Czech Republic
• LAVDIS

Products and services

• LAVDIS (River Information Services) SPS-operated River Information Services system that provides vessel tracking (AIS), Notices to Skippers, lock operations data, waterway status, and real-time navigation information for inland waterways in the Czech Republic.
• LAVDIS Mobile Application Mobile application for Android and iOS providing relevant waterway information on Czech Republic inland waterways for the general boating public, launched in July 2020.
• Electronic Submission System (Portál dopravy) Electronic government portal enabling citizens to submit applications for vessel documents, captain licenses, examinations, and ADN certificates. Authentication via Identity občana (NIA) is required.
• Navigation Maps and Geoportal Online portal providing schematic navigation maps, electronic nautical charts (Inland ECDIS), and georeferenced waterway information for planning voyages on Czech inland waterways.
• Technical Inspection Reservation System Online appointment booking system for technical inspections of small vessels at SPS branches in Prague, Děčín, and Přerov, as well as external locations.
• EuRIS (European River Information Services) Transnational European portal providing real-time waterway information across European inland waterways, including vessel tracking, lock operations, and Notices to Skippers. Czech Republic participates through SPS.
• Vessel Document Services Services including vessel registration, technical inspections, certificate issuance, and registry management for both small vessels and non-small vessels, with both in-person and electronic application options.
• Person Document Services (Captain and Crew Licenses) Examinations, certification, and registry services for vessel captains, crew members, radar operation, ADN hazardous goods transport, and engineering certificates, including exchanges for EU-standard qualifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Digital services enable 20% administrative fee discount for electronic submissions

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2021Agreement on Elbe navigability between Czech Republic and Germany to ensure and maintain navigation conditions from Pardubice to Hamburg. Enables ecological water transport and supports international trade and tourism.
• Generaldirektion der Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt (GDWS) - German Federal Waterways and Shipping AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2019Germany-Czech agreement signed in Hřensko enabling Czech citizens to take special competency examinations for German waterways (Elbe, Rhine, Weser, Danube) in Czech language at SPS branches. This agreement facilitates access for Czech shipping companies to German waterways and reduces examination costs. The agreement represents mutual cooperation between navigation authorities and demonstrates trust between both countries.
• Centrální komise pro plavbu na Rýně (CCNR) - Central Commission for the Navigation of the RhinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCNR approved significant reduction of risk sections on the Rhine from December 2024, effective July 2025. Czech citizens can obtain special authorizations for Rhine navigation through SPS examinations. The CCNR coordinates international navigation standards for European inland waterways.
• Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo dopravy ČR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPS operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport. Collaborates on transport policy, digitalization initiatives including the Transport Portal, and navigation safety campaigns.
• Police of the Czech Republic (Policie ČR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operations with SPS on waterway safety supervision, particularly during summer navigation seasons at locations like VD Slapy. Collaboration on safety campaigns and accident prevention.
• Vodní záchranná služba (Water Rescue Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on water safety supervision and rescue operations. Joint preventive activities during high-traffic navigation periods.
• European Union (EU) - Inland Navigation Directive 2017/2397coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation of EU Directive on recognition of professional qualifications in inland navigation. Harmonizes competency requirements across EU member states and enables mutual recognition of qualifications.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry for Regional Development, Ministry of Environment (Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint position on floating photovoltaic power plants (PFVE) on water reservoirs. Multi-ministry coordination on water body usage regulations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Voies Navigables de France (VNF): French public operator and regulator of inland waterways, with overlapping scope in navigation permits, vessel inspection, lock operations, and waterway information services under a similar public-authority model.
• Rijkswaterstaat: Dutch government agency within the Ministry of Infrastructure managing national waterways, locks, and traffic — analogous in regulator-plus-operator profile and in operating large-scale river information / mobility data services.
• Inland Navigation Authority in Poland (Urząd Żeglugi Śródlądowej): Polish national inland navigation authority responsible for licensing, vessel registration, technical inspections and waterway supervision in Poland — directly comparable in functions and EU-directive implementation responsibilities.
• Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (GDWS): Germany's federal waterway and shipping administration; bilateral partner of SPS under the 2022 Hřensko agreement enabling Czech examinations for German waterways. Operates an analogous mandate over inland navigation (Elbe, Rhine, Weser, Danube) with similar licensing, oversight and RIS functions.
• De Vlaamse Waterweg nv: Flemish single-purpose waterway authority overseeing navigation, infrastructure and permits on Flanders' inland waterway network; closely comparable to SPS in scope, public-authority status, and focus on inland navigation.
• via donau — Österreichische Wasserstraßen-Gesellschaft: Austrian federal waterway company that plans, builds, operates and maintains the Danube waterway infrastructure and provides river information services directly comparable in mandate to SPS on the Morava/Danube shared corridor.

Others

• Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR): International regulatory commission coordinating Rhine navigation rules; not a domestic peer but a strategic international counterpart under which SPS administers special authorizations and reduces risk sections on shared waterways (2024–2025).
• EuRIS — European River Information Services: Transnational portal in which SPS participates as the Czech national data provider; enables cross-border RIS integration and was redesigned December 2025 — adjacent enabling platform rather than a direct competitor.
• Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau (BAW): German federal waterway engineering institute supporting navigation authority functions through research and standards; adjacent enabling institution rather than a regulator/competitor.
• Danube Commission: International commission overseeing navigation on the Danube — referenced by SPS as a coordination partner; comparable international body rather than a direct domestic peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NemcovaSPS
• Facebookfacebook.com/Statni.plavebni.sprava
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/statni-plavebni-sprava

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about State Navigation Authority