Analysis
NAICS 483212 is the 2022 national industry for inland water passenger transportation, part of 48321 (Inland Water Transportation). Census lists 9 example activities under it in the official index.
By establishments it ranks 2nd of the 2 codes at this level within Inland Water Transportation, with 43.2% of them.
County Business Patterns counts 299 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 3,378 people at an average annual payroll of $67,553 per employee (48th percentile of national industries). 66% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 10% and employment rose 9%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 483112, 713210, 483114 and 487210. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include canal passenger transportation, car lighters (i.e., ferries), inland waters (except on…, intracoastal transportation of passengers and lake passenger transportation (except on Great Lakes system), among 9 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing inland water transportation of passengers on lakes, rivers, or intracoastal waterways (except on the Great Lakes System).
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing deep sea transportation of passengers to and from foreign ports | 483112 Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
| Operating floating casinos (i.e., gambling cruises, riverboat gambling casinos) | 713210 Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
| Operating cruise ships or ferries in coastal waters or on the Great Lakes System | 483114 Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation |
| Providing scenic and sightseeing water transportation, such as harbor cruises and charter fishing boat operations | 487210 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water |
| Renting yachts and pleasure boats, such as houseboats and sailboats, without crew | 532284 Recreational Goods Rental |
| Renting or leasing commercial boats (including vessel supply services), without crew | 532411 Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing |
Index entries (9)
- Canal passenger transportation
- Car lighters (i.e., ferries), inland waters (except on Great Lakes system)
- Intracoastal transportation of passengers
- Lake passenger transportation (except on Great Lakes system)
- Passenger transportation, inland waters (except on Great Lakes system)
- River passenger transportation
- Ship chartering with crew, passenger transportation, inland waters (except on Great Lakes system)
- Water shuttle services
- Water taxi services