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Maritime Companies in Leicester: 32 Active Firms (2026)
Maritime companies in Leicester provide shipping, vessel-support and marine logistics services from an inland Midlands base.
Buying centres tend to sit with freight owners, vessel operators, transport intermediaries and port-adjacent service teams rather than general facilities procurement. Leicester-based suppliers are usually competing on service reliability, documentation discipline and links into UK port movements from an inland base. Engagements are likely to be account-led and operational, with recurring logistics support, brokerage, compliance administration or vessel-service work rather than one-off software-style contracts. The practical buyer is often a transport, operations or trade-compliance manager working inside a small to mid-sized organisation, where supplier choice is shaped by response times, insurance, certification and the ability to coordinate across road, port and international shipping workflows.
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Leicester has 32 maritime companies actively trading, making this a narrow local cohort rather than a broad port-city cluster. Only 3 have turnover above £5M, which suggests most firms sit below the larger shipping-services bracket, while 6 were incorporated since 2022. Reported headcount totals 265 people among firms with a stated workforce, so the employment footprint is visible but modest. The pattern fits Leicester’s inland position: activity appears more likely to support freight flows, documentation, agency work and service coordination connected to ports elsewhere, rather than direct quayside concentration.
Maritime activity sits within a rules-led operating environment even when the company base is inland. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, sponsored by the Department for Transport, produces maritime legislation and guidance, provides seafarer certification, operates the UK Ship Register and checks ships visiting UK ports and anchorages through Port State Control. That matters for Leicester firms serving vessel operators or freight intermediaries, because compliance obligations can follow the shipment or vessel relationship rather than the office location. Foreign-flagged vessel checks, seafarer qualification requirements and ship-registration processes all shape how service providers document work and manage counterparties.
Future development appears likely to favour firms that can handle cross-border paperwork, port-facing coordination and specialist maritime compliance without needing a quayside footprint. The cohort looks weighted towards smaller service businesses, so expansion may be account-by-account rather than through large local capacity additions. Buyers tend to reward dependable execution and clean documentation, which may keep switching lower where suppliers understand a route, cargo type or operator’s internal process. Consolidation is plausible where general freight intermediaries add maritime capability, but the local market still appears more service-fragmented than platform-shaped.
32
Active firms
2026
3
£5M+ turnover
Reported turnover above £5M
6
New incorporations
Since 2022
Key facts
About 9% of the trading cohort reports turnover above £5M (3 of 32 firms) — the rest sits below that revenue band.
18% of the cohort was incorporated since 2022 (6 firms), so a sizeable share is in its first few filing cycles.
UK maritime generated £116 billion in total turnover and £48.9 billion in GVA in 2019, supporting 1,064,000 jobs.
UK ports handled 434.9 million tonnes of freight in 2023, down 5% from 2022 and 10% compared with 2019.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency produces legislation and guidance, provides seafarer certification, operates the UK Ship Register and carries out Port State Control.
Eligible foreign-flagged ship owners or operators under the Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2011 and Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1832 must give 72 hours’ notice.
Over 80% of world trade volume is carried by sea, while global maritime trade grew by 2.4% in 2023 to 12.3 billion tons.
Top Leicester Maritime companies
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides shipping agency, freight forwarding and logistics services, including vessel husbandry, bunker fuel coordination, ship spares logistics, land transport, project logistics, and offshore…
Serves B2B customers in shipping, logistics and marine sectors, including ship owners, managers and operators, offshore energy firms, freight/cargo businesses and industry clients in aerospace,…
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 19% CAGR over 4y
Location
TBA LEICESTER LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsDevelops terminal operating system software and industrial automation systems for ports, container terminals, and bulk cargo facilities. Provides software development, installation, integration, and…
Serves B2B operators of ports, container, inland, bulk and multi-purpose terminals, plus industrial automation customers in bulk handling, conveyor systems, tunnelling, waste-to-energy and recycling…
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 5% CAGR over 4y
Location
YM GLOBAL LOGISTICS LTD
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Growing · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
Light Freight Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -16% CAGR over 4y
Location
ROKEL SHIPPING AND TRAVEL SERVICES LTD.
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Profitable · -33% CAGR over 4y
Location
RUTLAND TRANSPORT LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides freight forwarding and logistics services for international and domestic shipments, arranging air, sea, rail and road transport, customs clearance, and supply chain support, including…
Targets UK businesses moving goods domestically and internationally, including importers, exporters, and supply chain teams across multiple sectors with FCL/LCL, bulk, urgent, or time-sensitive…
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 5% CAGR over 5y
Location
NKR FREIGHT LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides international freight forwarding and logistics services including air, sea and road transport, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution. Also offers door‑to‑door shipping, courier…
Sells to businesses involved in UK and international trade needing freight forwarding, customs, warehousing and distribution. Serves importers, exporters and supply chain teams across sectors…
Financial Health
StableStable · -7% CAGR over 4y
Location
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides international logistics and supply chain services including air and sea freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, distribution, last‑mile delivery, cargo insurance, shipment…
Serves B2B customers with cargo and supply chain needs, including importers, exporters, retailers, manufacturers and firms requiring global shipment routes, customs support, warehousing and…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 37% CAGR over 4y
Location
VICEL & SONS SHIPPING LIMITED
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
GPS PARCEL LTD
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
G & V Logistics Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides international freight forwarding and logistics services including air, sea and land transport, customs brokerage, warehousing, and temperature-controlled cold chain handling for…
Serves businesses needing cross-border freight and supply chain support, especially pharma, life sciences, chemicals, engineering and EPC firms shipping temperature-sensitive, hazardous or project…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -12% CAGR over 2y
Location
FREIGHTPORT Logistics Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides freight forwarding and logistics services, including European road freight distribution, air freight and sea freight shipping. Operates express van and LGV transport and arranges FCL and LCL…
Serves businesses with UK, European and global freight forwarding requirements, including importers and exporters shipping by road, sea or air across Europe, China, India, the USA and wider…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · -19% CAGR over 2y
Location
Trajectory
3y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides international freight and logistics services including road, air, sea and rail transport, express delivery, warehousing, customs brokerage, cargo insurance, and supply chain management with…
Serves businesses with supply chain and freight needs, including pharma and healthcare companies, lifestyle brands, fashion and retail firms, and organisations moving large-volume or time-sensitive…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
Skylift UAV Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides offshore heavy‑lift drone delivery services using BVLOS and VLOS UAV operations to transport tools, equipment, and cargo between vessels and offshore structures. Also offers UAV flight…
Serves B2B customers in offshore energy and maritime sectors, including wind farm operators, offshore platform teams, UAV fleet owners and organisations developing heavy-lift drone projects.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · Hiring · 41% CAGR over 4y
Location
FIN OPERATIONS LIMITED
Trajectory
1y · 2025–NowProvides international freight forwarding and logistics services including sea, air, road and rail transport. Offers container and bulk cargo shipping, door‑to‑door road haulage, air cargo delivery,…
Serves businesses with international shipping and supply-chain needs, including import/export firms and customers moving container, bulk, special or time-sensitive cargo, plus individuals requiring…
Financial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
Pack to Send Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
PINNACLE INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides international freight forwarding and logistics services, arranging air, sea and road transport for commercial cargo. Offers export packing, warehousing, ecommerce fulfilment, and handling of…
Serves B2B customers involved in international trade, including ecommerce retailers, manufacturers, defence and aerospace firms, pharmaceutical companies, space technology businesses, and…
Financial Health
StableStable · Profitable · -2% CAGR over 4y
Location
SEAGULL SHIP SERVICES LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides freight forwarding and logistics services, including project cargo logistics, full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) shipping, customs clearance, transportation…
Serves businesses with cargo and supply-chain needs, including importers, exporters and companies requiring project logistics, FCL/LCL shipping, customs clearance, transport or warehousing support.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
COMPLETE LOGISTICS LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides international freight forwarding and logistics services including air and ocean freight transport, customs brokerage, and project cargo handling. Supports importers and exporters with…
Serves importers, exporters and businesses with international shipments, including companies trading between Bangladesh and USA, Europe, Canada and Far East markets, plus project cargo clients.
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 2% CAGR over 5y
Location
Freightlink Logistics (UK) Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides freight forwarding and logistics services for shipments by road, sea, and air. Manages UK, European and international consignments, including daily Ireland services, and offers storage and…
Serves businesses needing freight movement, from sole traders to multinational blue-chip companies, with large and small consignments across the UK, Europe and worldwide.
Financial Health
StableStable · -7% CAGR over 4y
Location
PREMIUM YACHT SALES LTD
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
SUPPLYCHAIN21 LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides freight forwarding and logistics services for the drinks industry, arranging UK and international transport of beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks. Handles import and export shipments,…
Serves B2B drinks industry customers, including breweries, distilleries, wineries, spirits brands, soft drink suppliers and drinks producers needing UK and European logistics, import/export and…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
NORTH KILWORTH WHARF LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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How Leicester Maritime companies work and how to sell to them
What they do
Leicester maritime firms typically earn revenue by coordinating parts of a shipment or vessel-service process rather than owning a full end-to-end network. Income may come from per-shipment fees, brokerage margins, documentation charges, recurring account support, call-out work for vessel services or project fees for unusual cargo and route requirements. Pricing is often operationally anchored: a quoted movement, a lane, a vessel attendance window, or a bundle of customs, insurance and port-facing administration. The service shape is closer to logistics operations and regulated coordination than to a software subscription, although more process-led firms still rely on systems that keep job files, evidence and counterparties aligned.
Who they sell to
Customers are usually freight owners, importers, exporters, vessel operators, port-adjacent service providers and transport intermediaries linking Midlands cargo flows to UK ports and overseas routes. The day-to-day sponsor is often a logistics manager, operations director, transport manager or trade-compliance lead, with finance involved where credit terms, insurance and claims exposure matter. Contract value tends to vary with cargo frequency and route complexity; smaller accounts may buy job by job, while regular shippers may agree rate cards or annual service terms. Sales cycles are often relationship-led and measured in weeks, although larger freight owners may use procurement panels, tenders or formal quote comparisons.
What they buy
Most Leicester maritime firms tend to spend on tools and services that reduce operational friction rather than on speculative growth software. Relevant categories include freight management systems, shipment tracking, customer and job recordkeeping, billing, credit control, document management, compliance workflow, cyber security, cloud communications and basic analytics for lane, margin and service performance. Service budgets may cover marine insurance advice, claims support, legal review of trading terms, accounting, payroll, recruitment, training and marketing into freight-owner or vessel-operator accounts. Firms with road-leg responsibility may also need fleet administration, telematics, fuel management and maintenance support, though many will buy these through partners rather than as standalone infrastructure.
Why and how to sell to them
Maritime buyers tend to evaluate suppliers when operational exceptions start costing time: missed sailings, late paperwork, disputed charges, insurance claims, customs queries or inconsistent handovers between road, port and overseas counterparties. Other triggers include a new trade lane, a larger freight-owner account, a change in operations leadership, added MCA-facing obligations, or pressure to shorten quote-to-invoice cycles. Outbound usually lands better when it speaks to service reliability, evidence trails, fewer manual checks and cleaner counterparty communication, rather than broad productivity claims. A practical opening is to show where the offer fits into live shipment administration, compliance documentation or account retention, with minimal disruption to existing workflows.
How this list is built
Data sources
This list is built from UK Companies House filings, XBRL accounts data, and semantic analysis of each company's public website. Revenue and headcount figures come from the most recent filed accounts; where the company has not filed, values are estimated using a model trained on filed history and peer benchmarks and are labelled as estimates.
Classification
Rather than relying solely on SIC codes, Firmbase classifies each company semantically: the company's website is crawled, an AI model reads what the company actually sells, and the company is placed into the relevant industry and subsectors. SIC codes are used as one signal but not the only one. This means a company that registered under a generic SIC code but pivoted into (for example) fintech is correctly identified as fintech, not as its original SIC category.
Freshness
The underlying company data is refreshed from Companies House continuously; filings appear in the list within days of submission. The curated list ordering is regenerated when the underlying data moves meaningfully (company count changes by more than 5%, a new company enters the top-ranked segment, or the filed-revenue numbers for the top firms change). You can see the last-updated timestamp near the top of the page.
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Frequently asked questions
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