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Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services in the US Industry Data and Analysis
The supply chain disruptions in the current period led to heavy port congestion, particularly in California. The influx of goods from Asia led to bottlenecks, resulting in delays and lower vessel utilization, which pressured revenue. Inflationary pressures and tightened monetary policy have stifled growth in trade value, while geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, have further disrupted trade patterns. Interest rates are set to be lowered, which will increase trade activity, benefiting the industry. Rising freight rates during the period prompted suppliers to seek alternative transportation methods, which in turn affected traffic at major ports and disrupted schedules. Revenue is expected to climb at a CAGR of 2.2% to an estimated $5 billion through the end of 2025, including a 1% growth in 2025.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released October 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 48833. Companies provide navigational services that ensure the safe passage of ships in and out of harbors. The services mainly involve docking and piloting marine vessels. Marine salvage services, which involve the retrieval of cargo or vessels following marine accidents, are also included in this industry. Related terms covered in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States include the jones act, waterborne freight and global positioning system (gps).
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States include Tugboat services, Navigational & transportation-related services and Towing services.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States include Crowley Holdings, Inc.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States is $5.1bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 934 businesses in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States?
The Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States?
The Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States?
The biggest company operating in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States is Crowley Holdings, Inc.
What does the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States include?
Cargo salvaging and Docking and undocking marine vessels are part of the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States is Crowley Holdings, Inc..
How competitive is the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Tugboat & Shipping Navigational Services industry in the United States.
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