The analysis of the state of water transport enterprises has been studied, tends of development thereof in the modern management environment are identified. The maritime and river freight and passenger market are evaluated to identify the prevailing trends in the industry. The information base of the study consisted of the statistical materials, as well as the achievements of domestic and foreign scientists on the functioning and prospects of water transport development. The volumes and structure of freight and passenger carriage by maritime and river transportation are given, the carriage is analyzed by type of freight, and the comparison study of logistics development in different countries of the world is conducted. It has been established that the identified trends of water transport enterprises development do not correspond to the available potential opportunities. It has been proved that the efficiency of functioning of maritime and river freight and passenger market depends to a large extent on the organization of the logistics sector. In this paper the comparison study of the Logistics Efficiency Index (LPI) in different countries was conducted, which index convincingly proves the need to develop the transport and logistics infrastructure of water transport enterprises. In this paper there have been identified the main destabilizing factors of impact on the effective functioning of the water transport enterprises, the assessment of which allows forming the main directions of development for the economic entities in the industry as an important factor of integration of our country into the world economic area. It is suggested to pay attention to the formation of active strategic interaction of the water transport enterprises in the further scientific researches with the purpose to provide powerful strategic potential of development and high level of competitiveness thereof in the transport service market.
