Inland waterway transport

Inland waterway transport is a licensed (concession) trade (field No. 9) covering the carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways. A concession is required to do business, which the Trade Licensing Office grants in administrative proceedings after demonstration of professional qualification under the Inland Navigation Act.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record.

Professional qualification under Section 33a of Act No. 114/1995 Coll., on inland navigation, as amended by Act No. 358/1999 Coll.

The concession is granted in administrative proceedings; a prior check of qualifications takes place as part of the proceedings. For the grant, an opinion (statement) of the relevant body of state administration is generally required – for this trade, the Ministry of Transport.

Clean criminal record: yes (Section 6 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.).
Medical fitness: no. Liability insurance: no. European professional card: no.

If the entrepreneur does not personally meet the professional qualification, they may ensure it through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act. The same person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

The trade licence comes into existence only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final (not by notification).

Examples of activities

Carriage of goods on inland waterways (river freight shipping)
Carriage of passengers by vessels on rivers, lakes and reservoirs
Sightseeing and tourist cruises
Operation of a ferry
Carriage of dangerous goods on a waterway
Combined transport of goods with a river section of the route
Hire of a vessel with crew for the carriage of passengers or goods

What the trade is and what it is for

Inland waterway transport is a licensed (concession) trade listed in Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act under field No. 9. It authorises you to carry passengers and goods commercially on the inland waterways of the Czech Republic – that is on rivers, lakes, reservoirs and canals. It covers both freight shipping and passenger transport, including sightseeing cruises and the operation of ferries.

Because it is a licensed (concession) trade, it is not enough merely to notify the business. You need a concession – a permit on which the Trade Licensing Office decides in administrative proceedings. This is the strictest category of trades, where the state verifies your professional qualification and clean criminal record even before the activity begins.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade covers in particular:

freight transport on inland waterways,
passenger shipping and sightseeing cruises,
operation of a ferry,
carriage of dangerous goods by water,
hire of a vessel with crew.

This trade concerns the operation of transport as a commercial service. It does not include the construction or repair of vessels themselves (that falls under other trades), nor maritime navigation, which is governed by different legislation. The hire of small recreational vessels without crew (e.g. a rowing-boat rental) generally does not fall under this licensed (concession) trade, but under an unqualified (free) trade. The actual nature of the activity is always decisive – in borderline cases we recommend consulting the Trade Licensing Office or the navigation authority.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

The applicant must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act – full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. For this trade the office requires a clean criminal record, demonstrated by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office obtains itself.

The key requirement is the professional qualification under Section 33a of Act No. 114/1995 Coll., on inland navigation, as amended by Act No. 358/1999 Coll. The governing framework also comprises Sections 6 to 8 and 27 of the Trade Licensing Act. In accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC, a prior check of qualifications also takes place for this activity.

If you do not meet the professional qualification personally, you may ensure it through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act – that is a person who meets the conditions and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. The same person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

The Act does not separately require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade licence to come into existence (specific requirements for the fitness of crew members are regulated separately by navigation legislation).

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Prepare the application for a concession on the Unified Registration Form (URF).
Submit the application at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through a Czech POINT contact point.
Document the professional qualification under Section 33a of the Inland Navigation Act and the details of any responsible representative.
Pay the administrative fee for accepting the application for a concession.
The office will request an opinion of the relevant body of state administration – the Ministry of Transport – and decide in administrative proceedings. The authority responsible for the field of activity is the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Na Františku 32, 110 15 Prague 1 – Staré Město.
The licence comes into existence on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final – not on submission of the application.

You will find a detailed universal procedure in the guide How to set up a trade. The time limit for deciding on a concession is generally 30 days.

Documents and fees

The completed Unified Registration Form (application for a concession).
Document evidencing professional qualification under Section 33a of Act No. 114/1995 Coll.
Documents relating to the responsible representative, if you appoint one (Section 11).
The office will verify the clean criminal record from the Criminal Records Register itself.
Administrative fee for the application for a concession: CZK 1,000 on first entry into business, CZK 500 for a further concession.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it a concession and not a notifiable trade?

Inland waterway transport is classified among licensed (concession) trades in Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act. For it, the state verifies professional qualification and a clean criminal record in advance, which is why a permit (concession) is required, on which a decision is made in administrative proceedings.

When can I start doing business?

Only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final. Unlike notifiable trades, submitting the application is not enough.

How long does processing take?

The time limit for deciding on a concession is generally 30 days. The time may be extended by the time needed for the opinion of the relevant body of state administration (the Ministry of Transport).

What if I do not have the required professional qualification?

You may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act, who meets the professional qualification and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may at the same time act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.