WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee - Startseite

What WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee - Startseite does

WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee (legal name: Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Weser-Jade-Nordsee) is a federal German government agency (Bundesbehörde) operating under the Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt (GDWS) within the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV). Established in 2013 as part of federal administrative reform, the agency holds the exclusive statutory mandate under Article 89 of the Grundgesetz to manage federal waterways in its jurisdiction, which spans approximately 107 km of the Weser (from river km 36 to km 126), the entire Jade waterway, and connected waterways including the Küstenkanal, Hunte, Lesum, and Wümme across Lower Saxony and Bremen coastal regions. Its core functions include Strompolizei (waterway police) and Schifffahrtspolizei (shipping police) authority, fairway maintenance, navigation mark operations, permitting, and 24/7 Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) delivered through three Verkehrszentralen in Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven.

The agency's underlying technology infrastructure centers on the SMV (System Maritime Verkehrstechnik), which consolidates radar images from coastal radar stations, AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponder data, DGPS satellite navigation, and VHF radio communications across 3 data centers serving 9 coastal traffic control centers. The Fachgruppe Nachrichtentechnik maintains the electronic and electrical infrastructure of radar stations, lighthouses, switching stations, gauges, and traffic control centers. The agency operates a specialized fleet of 22+ watercraft including survey vessels (Zenit, built 2004), hopper dredgers (Nordsee, Osteriff), navigation mark vessels (Alte Weser), hydrological measurement ships (Tide), and patrol vessels. Public-facing digital services include ELWIS (Elektronischer Wasserstraßen-Informationsservice) for nautical information and PEGELONLINE for real-time hydrological data.

As a federal government entity, WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee operates under a government funding model with no commercial revenue streams; it is financed entirely through federal budget appropriations. Services are provided directly to public shipping, commercial maritime operators, port operators at Bremen, Bremerhaven, Brake, Wilhelmshaven, and Oldenburg, recreational boaters, and the general public through statutory authority rather than market transactions. Current leadership is Dr. Torsten Stengel as Director at the Wilhelmshaven headquarters. The agency's most significant capital initiatives include the Weseranpassung (enabling tide-independent 13.50m draft access for mega-container vessels at Bremerhaven) and the Cäcilienbrücke replacement project.

Name

WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee - Startseite

Legal name

Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Weser-Jade-Nordsee

Website

https://wsa-weser-jade-nordsee.wsv.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee is a German federal waterway and shipping authority managing approximately 107 km of the Weser, the Jade, and connected waterways under the WSV/GDWS. It provides 24/7 Vessel Traffic Services through three traffic control centers, fairway maintenance, navigation mark operations, and permitting for commercial shipping, ports, and recreational boaters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Waterway and Shipping Administration

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Harbor Master & Marine Traffic Control (VTS) (TLAHAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services (TLAHAFAE), Navigation & Aids-to-Navigation Works (Beacons, Buoys, Markers) (IMAFAJAH), Navigation, Communications & Integrated Bridge Systems Engineering (IMAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Waterway management services
• Vessel traffic services
• Maritime traffic control
• Federal shipping administration
• Fairway maintenance dredging

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilhelmshaven

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Budget Funding: As a federal authority under the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV), the WSA is funded entirely by the federal government budget. Revenue is not generated through commercial sales or fees for services. Some regulatory fees (e.g., Gebühren nach der Kostenverordnung zum Bundeswasserstraßengesetz) may be collected for specific approvals, but these are cost-recovery instruments rather than commercial revenue streams.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee is a German federal waterway and shipping authority managing federal waterways in the Weser, Jade, and North Sea region. It operates three 24/7 Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) centers in Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven, providing radar-based maritime traffic monitoring, navigation aids, fairway maintenance (dredging), and regulatory approvals. Core outputs include traffic management, navigation safety infrastructure, hydrological information services (ELWIS, PEGELONLINE), and permits for operations on federal waterways.

Product overview

WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee operates as a federal waterway and shipping authority (Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt) responsible for managing waterways in the Weser, Jade, and North Sea region. The organization provides Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) through three traffic control centers (Verkehrszentralen) in Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven, operating 24/7 to monitor and manage maritime traffic. Its services include waterway maintenance, navigation mark operations, dredging via specialized vessels, and scientific surveying. The authority offers public information services including ELWIS (electronic waterway information) and PEGELONLINE (hydrological data), and is implementing the SMV (Maritime Traffic Technology System) for centralized coastal traffic management. The vessel fleet includes survey ships (Zenit, Jade, Nadir), suction dredgers (Nordsee, Osteriff), patrol vessels, and multi-purpose work ships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Maritime traffic management service consisting of radar stations, AIS (Automatic Identification System), and traffic control centers providing 24/7 vessel monitoring, traffic information, traffic support, and traffic regulation on the Weser, Jade, and inner German Bight. Served to commercial shipping companies and recreational boaters.
• ELWIS (Electronic Waterway Information Service)
• PEGELONLINE
• Strom- und Schifffahrtspolizeiliche Genehmigungen (SSG Permits)
• Schifffahrtspolizeiliche Genehmigungen (Shipping Police Permits)
• Sports Boat Licensing and Small Vessel Registration
• Fairway Maintenance and Dredging Services
• Navigation Aids Operation and Maintenance

Quantifiable outcome

• 107 river kilometers of Weser from km 36 to km 126 monitored and managed under VTS Bremerhaven
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GDWS (Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt)coreOthersThe GDWS is the superior authority (Aufsichtsbehörde) overseeing the WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee. It exercises both service supervision (Dienstaufsicht) and specialist supervision (Fachaufsicht) over the WSA. The GDWS is responsible for setting policy for the entire WSV system, approving major projects, and managing the maritime pilotage system.
• Hafenbetreiber und Unternehmen in der Schifffahrt (Port Operators and Shipping Companies)majorOthersTraffic control centers maintain constant contact via modern telecommunications with all important federal and state authorities, as well as port operators and companies in the shipping industry. The WSA coordinates tide-dependent vessel movements with port operators at Bremen, Bremerhaven, Brake, and Wilhelmshaven.
• Federal and State Authorities (Bundes- und Landesbehörden)majorOthersTraffic control centers maintain constant contact via modern telecommunications with federal and state authorities for coordinated emergency response, environmental monitoring, and traffic management. This includes maritime rescue coordination and environmental protection.
• ELWIS (Elektronischer Wasserstraßen-Informationsservice)coreTechnology or IntegrationELWIS is the electronic waterway information service operated by the WSV system, providing nautical information, legal regulations, and ship reporting requirements. The WSA contributes data and maintains content on this shared platform.
• PEGELONLINE (Hydrological Data Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationPEGELONLINE is the hydrological information system of the WSV providing real-time water level data and hydrological measurements. The WSA operates gauges and contributes data to this shared platform accessible to all waterway users.
• Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau (BAW) (Federal Institute of Hydraulic Engineering)majorOthersThe BAW provides technical expertise and research support for waterways engineering. Referenced in the context of the Unterweser fairway adaptation project, where BAW provided survey data and engineering analysis.
• Berufsbildungszentren Koblenz und Kleinmachnow (Vocational Training Centers)minorOthersVocational training centers for waterway construction trades (Wasserbauer). The WSA coordinates with these BBiz centers for the theoretical and practical training components of apprentice programs.
• Bundesanstalt für Verwaltungsdienstleistungen (BAV) AurichminorOthersThe BAV provides administrative training components for Verwaltungsfachangestellte apprentices. Students complete a multi-week training segment at BAV Aurich as part of their apprenticeship.
• Gewerbliche Lehranstalten Bremerhaven (Vocational Schools)minorOthersVocational school for Fachinformatiker and other technical apprentices at the Bremerhaven location. Training follows a 1-week school / 2-week work rotation schedule.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WSA Elbe-Nordsee: German federal waterway and shipping authority managing the Elbe estuary and adjacent North Sea waters, including Hamburg port approaches. Operates VTS, fairway maintenance, and navigation aids under the same WSV framework as WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee.
• WSA Main-Donau-Kanal: German federal waterway authority managing the Main-Danube Canal connecting North Sea and Black Sea basins. Comparable WSV-system peer with similar mandate for locks, navigation aids, and traffic services.
• WSA Neckar: German federal waterway authority managing the Neckar inland waterway. Same statutory framework, with focus on lock operations and inland navigation — useful peer for waterway infrastructure management practice.
• WSA Ems-Nordsee: German federal waterway authority covering the Ems estuary and adjacent North Sea coast. Operates VTS, dredging, and navigation aid services under identical statutory framework as the subject agency.
• WSA Ostsee: German federal waterway authority responsible for Baltic Sea coastal waterways. Operates VTS, fairway maintenance, and coastal engineering under the same federal WSV system — comparable mandate, scale, and operational model.
• WSA Rhein: German federal waterway authority managing the Rhine — Europe's busiest inland waterway. Operates locks, VTS, and fairway maintenance on a much higher-traffic system, providing direct peer comparison for VTS and infrastructure operations.

Regional players

• Rijkswaterstaat: Dutch national waterway and infrastructure agency operating under the Ministry of Infrastructure. Comparable mandate for waterways, VTS, and coastal protection — provides a cross-border benchmark for federal waterway management practice.

Others

• Bremenports GmbH & Co. KG: Port management company operating Bremerhaven and Bremen ports. Receives WSA fairway-maintenance and VTS services and is a key operational partner coordinating tide-dependent vessel movements on the Weser.
• Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG: Lower Saxony state port operator managing Brake, Cuxhaven, Emden, and other North Sea ports. Operates within WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee's jurisdiction and is a direct customer for fairway and VTS services.

Broad incumbents

• Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt (GDWS): Parent supervisory authority of all German WSAs, setting policy and approving major projects across the entire federal waterway system. Provides direct oversight of WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee and exercises both Dienstaufsicht and Fachaufsicht.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wsa-weser-jade-nordsee---startseite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about WSA Weser-Jade-Nordsee - Startseite