HS Code 8901Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry-boats, cargo ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
4 six-digit codes · Heading 1 of 8 in Chapter 89 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
HS code 8901 covers ships built to carry people or cargo, from cruise ships and ferry boats to tankers, cargo ships and barges. Use this page to find the right subheading and to tell 8901 apart from other vessel headings.
Heading 8901 opens Chapter 89: it is the first of the chapter’s 8 headings, and goods answering to “Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry-boats, cargo ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods” divide across 4 six-digit codes, 890110 to 890190. The heading is number 1 of 8 in Chapter 89, Ships, boats and floating structures, which runs to 25 six-digit codes in all.
Six-digit codes under heading 8901
| HS Code | Import–export description |
|---|---|
| 890110 | Cruise ships, excursion boats and similar vessels, principally designed for the transport of persons, ferry boats of all kinds |
| 890120 | Tankers |
| 890130 | Vessels, refrigerated; other than tankers |
| 890190 | Vessels; n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods |
What HS code 8901 covers
Heading 8901 is for vessels whose main job is to move people or goods across water. If a vessel exists mainly to transport, it most likely belongs here.
The heading sits inside Chapter 89, which groups ships, boats and floating structures. Other kinds of craft, such as yachts, tugs and fishing vessels, have their own headings. The sections below show how to sort them out.
Customs officers look at what the vessel was designed to do. A name on a brochure does not decide the code. The design and main use of the vessel do.
How to choose the right 8901 subheading
Work through the questions below in order. Stop at the first one that fits. Each answer points to one of the four six-digit codes.
Not sure about your vessel? Try our HS code classifier before you file.
- Does the vessel mainly carry people? Use 890110.
- Is it a tanker? Use 890120.
- Is it a refrigerated vessel that is not a tanker? Use 890130.
- Is it any other vessel for goods, or one that carries both people and goods? Use 890190. A general cargo ship or a barge is not a tanker and is not refrigerated, so it normally falls here.
Is it 8901 or another Chapter 89 heading?
Many boats look alike but sit in different headings. The use of the vessel is what separates them. A ferry or cruise ship is made to carry passengers, so it stays in 8901. A boat made for pleasure or sport moves to 8903.
Here is how the neighbouring headings differ from 8901:
- 8902 is for fishing vessels and factory ships that process or preserve fishery products.
- 8904 is for tugs and pusher craft.
- 8905 is for light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes and floating platforms, where moving on water is not the main purpose.
- 8907 is for rafts, tanks, buoys, landing stages and other floating structures.
- 8908 is for vessels and floating structures that are sold to be broken up. A cargo ship bought for scrap goes here, not in 8901.
Who imports and exports vessels under 8901?
Knowing the code is only the first step. The next question is who buys and sells these vessels. Searching by HS code answers that.
EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.
Start with 8901, or pick one subheading such as tankers or ferry boats, to narrow the search to the vessel type you care about.
Related
- Chapter 89: ships, boats and floating structures
- HS 8902 fishing vessels
- HS 8903 yachts and pleasure boats
- HS 8904 tugs and pusher craft
- HS 8905 dredgers and floating platforms
- HS 8906 warships and lifeboats
- HS 8907 rafts, buoys and floating structures
- HS 8908 vessels for breaking up
- All HS code chapters
- HS code classifier
- Import data
- Export data
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Nearby headings in Chapter 89
- 8902Fishing vessels, factory ships and other vessels; for processing or…1 code
- 8903Yachts and other vessels; for pleasure or sports, rowing boats and canoes11 codes
- 8904Tugs and pusher craft1 code
- 8905Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, other vessels; the…3 codes
- 8906Vessels; other, including warships and lifeboats, other than rowing boats2 codes
- 8907Boats, floating structures, other (for e.g. rafts, tanks, coffer-dams…2 codes
- 8908Vessels and other floating structures; for breaking up1 code
Who ships under 8901?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the 4 codes beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section XVII: Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels and Transport Equipment, chapters 86–89.
HS Code 8901: common questions
What is the HS code for ferry boats and cruise ships?
Use 890110. It covers cruise ships, excursion boats and similar vessels made mainly to carry people, including ferry boats of all kinds.
What is the HS code for tankers?
Tankers go under 890120.
What is the HS code for barges and cargo ships?
Barges and cargo ships are named in the heading 8901 description. If the vessel carries goods and is neither a tanker nor refrigerated, it normally goes under 890190.
Which code covers refrigerated vessels?
Use 890130. It is for refrigerated vessels other than tankers.
Where does a vessel that carries both people and goods go?
It goes under 890190, which covers vessels for goods and vessels for both persons and goods that are not named in the other subheadings.
Are yachts or fishing vessels classified under 8901?
No.
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