NACE 50.4 – Inland Freight Water Transport | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 50.4 covers the commercial transport of goods on inland waterways — including bulk goods, dry bulk, dangerous goods and container transport on rivers, canals and inland lakes. Inland freight transport is an important part of multimodal logistics chains used by public contracting authorities for infrastructure and procurement projects.

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

What does NACE 50.4 cover?

NACE 50.4 (Inland freight water transport) classifies undertakings that transport goods, raw materials and construction materials on inland waters — a segment relevant for public infrastructure projects and special transport.

Group 50.4 within Section H (Transportation and storage) and Division 50 (Water transport) covers the following typical activities:

Public contracting authorities are in particular hydraulic engineering offices, construction administrations for major projects (e.g. port extensions, dyke construction), the federal waterways administration and municipal operations with goods transport needs over waterways.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 50.4

Freight transport on inland waters is tendered in the public sector primarily for large-volume infrastructure projects, waste-disposal tasks and the transport of materials for hydraulic engineering works.

Typical types of contract

• Material transport in hydraulic engineering: Transport of excavated material, riprap and construction materials for dyke construction, lock refurbishment and bank reinforcement
• Excavation and dredging spoil disposal: Removal of dredging spoil from fairway deepening and harbour maintenance by vessel
• Container transport for public authorities: Freight transport for military logistics (Bundeswehr), material transport on waterways for THW
• Dangerous goods transport: Transport of hazardous substances under ADN (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways)
• Fuel and supply deliveries: Transport of mineral oils and operating materials to remote waterway installations

Thresholds and procedure types

Freight transport contracts on inland waters are subject to the EU threshold for supply and service contracts (EUR 221,000 for municipalities, EUR 443,000 for utility sector contracting entities, as of 2024/2025). Open procedures or framework agreements with several transport service providers are often used.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 50.4

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be specified in every contract notice on TED, link the NACE classification with tender searches.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms.

For whom is NACE 50.4 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Waterways and shipping authorities are the central contracting authorities in the NACE 50.4 segment. In Germany, the Directorate General for Waterways and Shipping (GDWS) with its Waterways and Shipping Offices (WSÄ) is the lead contracting body for maintenance and construction works on federal waterways. In Austria, viadonau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen-Gesellschaft mbH is responsible for Danube-related works. Port and infrastructure companies (e.g. Duisburger Hafen AG, Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG) also tender freight transport services on waterways.

Companies and bidders

Inland navigation operators in the NACE 50.4 area typically have to provide the following evidence of eligibility for public tenders:

• Authorisation: Commercial authorisation as an inland boatmaster (EU Internal Market Directive 96/75/EC, Rhine navigation police regulations)
• Technical capacity: Fleet evidence with capacities and class certifications (CEMT/ECMT)
• Dangerous goods suitability: ADN authorisation for dangerous goods transport, boatmaster's licences with special qualifications
• Economic capacity: Annual turnover, inland navigation liability insurance

NACE 50.4 in context: Section H and Division 50

NACE 50.4 forms part of Division 50 (Water transport) within transport Section H — an area of particular importance for public infrastructure and construction projects with a waterway connection.

• NACE H – Transportation and storage: Parent section covering all transport activities
• NACE 50 – Water transport: Division covering sea and inland water transport
• NACE 50.3 – Inland passenger water transport: Passenger transport on inland waters
• NACE 52.1 – Warehousing and storage: Port warehouses and bonded warehouses as ancillary services

Frequently asked questions about NACE 50.4 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 50.4?
All undertakings whose focus is on the commercial transport of goods on inland waterways. This includes classical shipping companies but also undertakings that transport dredging spoil or deliver construction materials by vessel.

Are inland vessel capacities relevant in construction tenders?
Yes. In particular for large-volume civil engineering and hydraulic engineering projects (locks, dykes, bridges over waterways), goods transport by vessel is tendered either as an ancillary service or as a separate lot. Main contractors should plan for subcontractor capacity in inland navigation.

Which authorisation classes apply to public goods transport on inland waters?
The CEMT classification (I–VII) defines the dimensions and load capacities of waterways and the vessels operating on them. Public contracting authorities frequently specify minimum requirements for the vessel class, particularly for transport on heavily used federal waterways (Rhine, Main-Danube Canal, Elbe).

Does ADN apply to all public dangerous goods transports on inland waters?
Yes. The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN) is binding in all EU Member States. Public contracting authorities tender ADN-compliant transports and require evidence of the corresponding authorisations.

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