Privacy Policy

This privacy policy explains how Ostsee Fährverkehr Rostock collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you use our online platform or services. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and German data protection laws.

Who is responsible for your data?

The data controller responsible for processing your personal data in connection with this service is:

What personal data do we collect?

We may collect and process various types of personal data, depending on your interaction with our site and services. This includes:

• Information you provide directly to us: When you make a booking, contact us, register for an account (if applicable), or use our freight or passenger services, you may provide us with information such as your name, contact details, payment information, vehicle details, and any specific requests or requirements.
• Information collected automatically: When you visit our site, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the timing and frequency of your visits. This information is collected using cookies and similar technologies.
• Information from other sources: We may receive information about you from third parties, such as booking agents or partners, in connection with the services we provide.

How do we use your personal data?

We use your personal data for several purposes, based on specific legal grounds:

• To provide and manage the services you request: This includes processing your bookings, managing passenger and freight transportation, processing payments, and providing customer support. Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract.
• To communicate with you: We may use your contact information to send you service-related notifications, updates about your booking, or respond to your inquiries. Processing is based on the necessity for contractual performance or our legitimate interest in communicating with users.
• To improve our service and online platform: We analyze usage data to understand how our site and services are used, identify technical issues, and improve the user experience. This is based on our legitimate interest in optimizing our business and services.
• For marketing purposes: With your consent, we may send you promotional communications about our services and offers. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
• To ensure security and prevent fraud: We process data to protect our site, services, and users from fraud and security threats. This is based on our legitimate interests and legal obligations.
• To comply with legal obligations: We may process your data when required by law, such as for tax or regulatory purposes.

Legal basis for processing

We process your personal data based on one or more of the following legal bases:

• Performance of a contract: When the processing is necessary for a contract we have with you, such as processing your ferry booking.
• Legal obligation: When the processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
• Legitimate interests: When the processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided these interests are not overridden by your data protection interests or fundamental rights and freedoms. Examples include improving our services, preventing fraud, and ensuring the security of our network and services.
• Consent: When you have given us explicit consent for a specific processing activity, such as receiving marketing communications.

Data retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. The exact retention period depends on the type of data and the purpose of processing. For example, data related to bookings is kept for a period necessary to fulfill the service and comply with relevant commercial and tax laws.

Data security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. However, no online transmission or storage method is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Sharing your personal data

We may share your personal data with third parties in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who perform functions on our behalf, such as payment processors, IT service providers, or marketing agencies. These providers are contractually bound to process data only according to our instructions and applicable data protection laws.
• Partners: We may share data with partners involved in providing the services you request, such as port authorities or collaborating transport companies.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Your data protection rights

Under the GDPR and other applicable laws, you have certain rights regarding your personal data:

• The right to access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• The right to rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• The right to erasure: You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data under certain conditions.
• The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
• The right to object to processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data in certain situations.
• The right to data portability: You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and transmit it to another controller, where technically feasible.
• The right to withdraw consent: If we are processing your data based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
• The right to complain: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, particularly in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work, or where the alleged infringement occurred, if you believe that our processing of your personal data infringes applicable data protection laws.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

Cookies and tracking technologies

Our site uses cookies and similar technologies to function effectively, improve your experience, and analyze site usage. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Further details about our use of cookies may be available in a separate cookie policy.

Links to other websites

Our online platform may contain links to external websites that are not operated by us. We have no control over the content and practices of these sites and are not responsible for their privacy policies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Children's privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children without parental consent. If we become aware that a child under 16 has provided us with personal data without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information.

Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us at: