The maritime industry is characterized by constant change, driven by competitive pressure, asset intensity and global restructuring. The financial crisis of 2008-2009, set against the longer-term trends of increasing global trade and liberalization of regulatory regimes, provides the latest context for the dynamic and challenging business conditions faced by maritime industry participants.

For example, container shipping industry executives grapple with overcapacity, pricing challenges, vessel deployment strategies and rapid shifts in fuel costs and intermodal costs. They also focus on how best to optimize their customer, service, and alliance partner portfolios as global trade vacillates.

Port authorities and terminal operators, meanwhile, must defend their traditional markets while offering broader distribution services and optimizing land use, in addition to planning for changes in world trade patterns (e.g., Panama Canal expansion).

Bulk shipping executives have contended with enormous rate fluctuations and commodity price booms and busts related to the explosive growth in emerging markets, trade imbalances, currency exchange rate trends, and the financial crisis.

Norbridge supports its maritime consulting clients in resolving these and other complex business issues:

• Strategy
• Strategic planning and financial modeling
• Competitive assessments
• Due diligence and acquisition support for acquisitions and privatization
• Alliance strategy and integration
• Sales and marketing
• Commodity forecasts and freight market studies
• Customer segmentation, yield management and pricing
• Market entry and feasibility analysis
• Product and service development
• Sales force and customer service effectiveness
• Organization and operations
• Restructuring, merger integration and organizational design
• Performance measurement systems and process improvement
• Litigation support
• Expert witness testimony
• Economic and forensic analysis

We provide maritime consulting services to a wide range of clientele, including:

• Shipping lines:
• Container
• Breakbulk
• Bulk
• Port authorities
• Terminal operators
• Container terminals
• Intermodal terminals
• Ro-Ro, breakbulk and neo-bulk terminals
• Financial and Legal Institutions
• Banks
• Pension Funds
• Private equity companies
• Law firms
• Marine classification societies
• Shipbuilders and marine equipment suppliers
• Marine software companies

We have many years of experience providing maritime consulting services. Our projects for international shipping companies, port authorities and private equity and other investors, among others, have encompassed a diverse array of assignments that have sent us to locations around the globe. Please see our Case Studies for examples of our recent project experience. For more information about our maritime industries practice and capabilities, please contact James R. Brennan.