NACE 50.1 – Sea and Coastal Passenger Water Transport | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 50.1 covers the commercial transport of passengers on sea and coastal waterways, including ferry operation, excursion shipping and other maritime passenger transport. The group is relevant in public procurement for publicly commissioned ferry services and waterway connections as part of local public transport.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 50.1 cover?

NACE 50.1 (Sea and coastal passenger water transport) classifies undertakings that transport passengers on maritime routes — from scheduled ferries through tourist excursion vessels to harbour tours and Wadden Sea ferries.

Group 50.1 within Section H (Transportation and storage) and Division 50 (Water transport) consists of a single class:

Public contracting authorities in this segment are primarily federal states and municipalities with islands and coastal areas, public local transport authorities, port authorities and state-owned ferry operators. In Germany, contracting authorities such as Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei (WDR) or Weisse Flotte are representative of publicly commissioned ferry connections.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 50.1

Publicly commissioned ferry services and passenger water transport connections are an important niche segment in local public transport procurement — particularly for island communities, port cities and coastal regions.

Typical types of contract

• Scheduled ferry services: Publicly commissioned ferry connections between island and mainland, concessions for scheduled car ferries
• Local public transport ferries: Regular passenger ferries as part of the public local transport network (e.g. harbour cross-ferries)
• Charter trips for public contracting authorities: Official transport, plant ferries for federal authorities on islands, transport of schoolchildren by ferry
• Rescue and supply trips: Medical emergency supply to islands, material transport for lighthouses and navigational aids
• Seasonal tourist ferries under concession: Publicly commissioned excursion shipping in national parks and protected areas
• Harbour transfers and tender services: Harbour tours and passenger transfers under public contract

Thresholds and procedure types

Scheduled ferry services in the public interest are frequently subject to EU Regulation 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services. Direct award is only permitted under narrow conditions; as a rule, a competitive procedure or open tender must be carried out. For service contracts, the threshold is EUR 443,000 (utility sector contracting entities) or EUR 221,000 (classical contracting authorities, as of 2024/2025).

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 50.1

Ferry services and maritime passenger transport are identified in tenders via specific CPV codes in the water transport area.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms and the portals of the relevant federal states with a coastline.

For whom is NACE 50.1 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Contracting authorities for passenger transport in sea and coastal shipping are in Germany primarily the coastal states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen and Lower Saxony, along with their subordinate authorities and public local transport associations. In Austria, navigation on Lake Constance and the Danube is relevant; Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe GmbH is a typical contracting authority. In addition, federal authorities such as the German Waterways and Shipping Office (WSA) occasionally commission passenger transport to maritime infrastructure sites.

Companies and bidders

Shipping undertakings participating in public tenders under NACE 50.1 typically have to provide the following evidence:

• Authorisation: Valid shipowner licence, sea service certificate for passenger vessels (SOLAS compliance for international waters), ship safety certificate
• Technical capacity: Evidence of suitable vessels (passenger capacity, accessibility, age and condition of the fleet), references in scheduled services
• Economic capacity: Sufficient capital base, liability insurance (P&I insurance), minimum annual turnover
• Certifications: ISM Code certificate (International Safety Management), MLC 2006 (Maritime Labour Convention) for crews

As ferry operators are often of modest size, capacity reliance for additional vessel capacity is a relevant instrument.

NACE 50.1 in context: Section H and Division 50

NACE 50.1 forms part of Division 50 (Water transport) within Section H (Transportation and storage) — together with sea freight transport, inland water transport and the corresponding freight transports.

• NACE H – Transportation and storage: Parent section covering all transport and storage activities
• NACE 50 – Water transport: Division covering sea and inland water transport
• NACE 50.2 – Sea and coastal freight water transport: Sea freight transport and coastal freight transport
• NACE 50.3 – Inland passenger water transport: River and canal navigation for passengers

Frequently asked questions about NACE 50.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 50.1?
All shipping undertakings whose focus is on passenger transport on sea and coastal waters — from small ferry operators to large ferry operators with multiple lines. Cruise ship companies are included but play a minor role in public procurement.

Do special EU rules apply to scheduled ferry services?
Yes. Where ferry lines are classified as services of general economic interest (SGEI), they are subject to Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007. This governs compensation for public service obligations and imposes specific requirements on procurement transparency.

How do I find tenders for ferry services?
On TED under CPV code 60650000 (ferry services). In addition, direct monitoring of the procurement portals of coastal federal states and local transport associations is recommended.

Do ferries have to meet specific accessibility requirements?
Publicly commissioned ferry services in local public transport must comply with Regulation (EC) No 1177/2010 (rights of passengers in waterborne transport) and national accessibility legislation. Contracting authorities specify the corresponding technical requirements in the tender documents.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.