Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt

The Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping (GDWS) is a central authority within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). It was established on May 1, 2013, in Bonn to consolidate the previously regionally distributed tasks of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) in the inland and coastal areas. With over 800 employees in Bonn and approximately 11,000 staff in the subordinate Waterways and Shipping Offices and New Construction Offices, the GDWS manages and maintains the federal waterways in Germany. Its responsibilities include the operation and maintenance of approximately 7,300 km of inland waterways and 23,000 km² of sea waterways, including locks, weirs, bridges, and other hydraulic engineering structures. Additionally, it undertakes supraregional traffic management, provides advice to shipping, and develops long-term concepts for less frequently used waterways.

Our guiding principle: Enabling mobility and protecting the environment! The GDWS is committed to making shipping traffic on federal waterways safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Through targeted expansion, expert consultation, and traffic management, we promote a high-performance inland navigation system and contribute to sustainable transport infrastructure in Germany.

The funding programs of the General Directorate for Waterways and Shipping are primarily aimed at inland shipping companies as well as operators of transshipment facilities in combined transport who wish to invest in the expansion and modernization of their infrastructure. In addition, training and further education measures for skilled workers in inland shipping are supported, which is why educational institutions and participants in the respective training and further education programs are also part of the target group.