CPV 604 – Water Transport Services

What does CPV 604 cover?

CPV group 604 covers water transport services. This includes the operation of public ferry services, inland waterway passenger and freight transport, maritime shipping services procured by public bodies, water-based emergency and rescue transport, and the transport of passengers and vehicles by watercraft under public service obligations.

In public procurement, water transport services are particularly relevant for coastal municipalities and island communities that rely on ferry connections for public passenger transport, as well as port cities and inland waterway regions where water-based logistics are integral to public infrastructure. Ferry services connecting islands or crossing rivers and lakes are often provided under public service contracts comparable to bus or rail services.

Public waterway authorities also procure water transport for operational purposes: survey vessels, inspection boats, maintenance craft and emergency response watercraft for waterway management and flood protection. Environmental standards for vessel emissions, noise levels and fuel type are increasingly embedded in water transport specifications. Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Typical Services in CPV 604

Examples of Tenders with CPV 604

• River ferry service concession: A city administration tenders the operation of its public river ferry connecting two districts, covering passenger and bicycle transport, a minimum service frequency of every 15 minutes during peak hours, compliance with accessibility standards and operation of an electric or hybrid vessel.
• Island ferry service under public service obligation: A coastal district authority tenders a ten-year public service contract for ferry connections to four inhabited offshore islands, including vehicle transport, year-round operation, weather-contingency protocols and integration with the mainland public transport network.
• Waterway survey vessel charter: A federal waterway management authority procures the charter of a survey vessel for its annual hydrographic survey programme on a national inland waterway, including vessel operation, crew, survey equipment and data processing services.

Current tenders with CPV 604 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 604 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Coastal municipalities, island communities, river port authorities, inland waterway management bodies, public transport associations with water-based services and waterway infrastructure authorities are the main contracting authorities. Ferry service contracts may be governed by EU Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 for public passenger transport where applicable.

Companies and Bidders

Ferry operators, inland waterway shipping companies, vessel charter providers, maritime transport companies and waterway survey firms are typical bidders. Vessel operating licences, maritime safety certifications, crew qualifications, vessel capacity evidence and references for comparable public water transport contracts are generally required. Further information on eligibility requirements and procurement procedures is provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 604?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 604)

With tender.match, ferry operators and maritime transport companies automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 604 directly in their dashboard. BOND indexes tenders from over 1,000 procurement portals in the EU – from TED to national platforms and regional contracting authorities. Instead of manually searching dozens of portals every day, matching water transport contracts are filtered and delivered by industry, competency, region, and company profile. An automated gap analysis immediately shows where the company meets the requirements and where gaps exist. This ensures companies never miss a deadline and can focus on preparing their bids.

Company Match – Find the Right Partners and Suppliers (CPV 604)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for water transport projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger ferry or waterway service contracts that a single company cannot handle alone, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 604

What does the CPV code 60400000 mean?

The CPV code 60400000 designates water transport services in the European classification system for public contracts. It covers ferry services, inland waterway passenger and freight transport, maritime shipping and water-based operational transport procured by public contracting authorities.

How do I find tenders with CPV 604?

Tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) for EU-wide procedures for national tenders. Bond automatically aggregates all relevant tenders from over 1,000 portals and delivers them filtered by company profile.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 604?

Bidders must generally provide vessel operating licences, maritime safety certifications, crew qualifications, references for comparable public water transport contracts and vessel capacity documentation. Details are governed by the VgV and the UVgO depending on the contract value.