Marine Support Services

The 2,040 marine support services firms in the US include companies that operate ports, harbors, and canals, as well as companies that provide marine cargo handling and storage services. The industry also includes companies providing navigational services, such as piloting or tugboat services, and marine salvaging services.

Dependence on International Trade

Revenue for marine support services is driven by US imports and exports, which in turn depend on global economic conditions and international trade agreements.

Automation of Operations

As cargo volumes increase and ships get larger, marine terminal operators face challenges in quickly loading and unloading cargo to avoid congestion and delays for shippers, truckers and railcar operators.

Sep 28, 2026 - Aging Waterfronts Fuel Pier Repair Demand

• Aging waterfront infrastructure is creating more work for marine support services as ports and military facilities tackle years of deferred maintenance. The US Navy has warned that many piers, dry docks, and other shore facilities have deteriorated and will require substantial investment to restore. In July, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command awarded contracts worth up to $700 million for marine pier and facility construction, renovation, and repair in the Northwest. Commercial ports face similar needs. The Port of Albany is rebuilding 1,160 feet of aging wharf as part of more than $100 million in infrastructure improvements, while ports elsewhere are repairing piers, strengthening berths, and replacing deteriorating marine structures. Much of this work requires specialized contractors that can operate around tides, vessel traffic, and underwater structures, keeping demand strong for pile work, structural repairs, inspections, and other waterfront services.
• Ocean shipping costs have surged in 2026 as importers rush to bring in goods ahead of new US tariffs, driving fierce competition for vessel space and pushing freight rates sharply higher. According to transportation intelligence firm Xeneta, the average cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to the US West Coast recently reached $5,933, roughly triple the level at the end of February and the highest since September 2024. Rising fuel prices and bunker surcharges tied to Middle East tensions have added further pressure, while capacity constraints on key trade lanes have kept rates elevated despite fleet expansion. The higher costs are boosting business for US ports as cargo volumes climb, but they are squeezing retailers, manufacturers, and distributors, prompting many companies to import goods earlier, build larger inventories, and rethink supply chain strategies to reduce the risk of future disruptions.
• The Iran war has thrown the US deep sea freight industry into one of its most disruptive periods since the pandemic-era. Fighting and military activity around the Strait of Hormuz have sharply reduced commercial shipping traffic through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Major ocean carriers have rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10-20 days to voyages, driving up fuel costs, insurance premiums, and freight rates, while some Gulf-bound services have been suspended entirely. US importers and exporters are facing congestion, container shortages, volatile bunker fuel prices, and war-risk surcharges that are rippling through transpacific and transatlantic shipping markets. Industry analysts warn that the disruption is no longer limited to oil tankers; container shipping, chemicals, fertilizer, industrial inputs, and consumer goods supply chains are all affected, with higher transportation costs likely to contribute to inflation and slower trade growth in the US economy.
• The Supreme Court's invalidation of Trump’s global tariffs has delivered a mixed and incomplete result for American businesses. While the ruling theoretically opened the door to over $130 billion in refunds (with more than 2,200 companies already filing lawsuits to claim them) the practical benefit has been undermined by the administration's swift imposition of new tariffs and ongoing legal challenges. Rather than restoring stability, the ruling has added another layer of uncertainty, leaving businesses unsure whether refunds will materialize, what tariff rates will apply to future shipments, and how long any current rate will last. For many importers, the Supreme Court decision has been less a resolution than a reset button that restarted the same cycle of unpredictability that has already cost some companies millions of dollars.

Industry size & Structure

The average marine support services company operates out of a single location, employs 47 workers, and generates $13.5 million annually.

• The marine support services industry consists of about 2,040 firms employing about 97,600 workers and generating around $27.6 billion annually.
• About 360 commercial ports in the US and its territories handle 2-3 billion gross tons of cargo annually.
• The top US ports, based on volume of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled include Houston, New York/New Jersey, Long Beach, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
• The industry is concentrated, with the 50 largest firms accounting for 65% of industry revenue.
• Large companies include Ports America, APM Terminals (headquartered in the Netherlands), and SSA Marine.