Ship Overseas
Ship Overseas is a San Diego-based NVOCC (founded 1983) that arranges international RoRo and container shipping of cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and heavy machinery between the U.S. and 50+ countries across Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, serving individual consumers, U.S. military PCS relocations, and commercial shippers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ship Overseas does
Ship Overseas, Inc. is a San Diego-headquartered, privately held NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) founded in 1983 that arranges international vehicle transportation between the United States and destinations across Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and select reverse-corridor imports into the U.S. The company coordinates the shipment of cars, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs, boats, heavy machinery, and other vehicles on behalf of individual consumers, U.S. military personnel undergoing PCS relocations, businesses (dealerships, construction, commercial fleet operators), and an emerging segment of EV buyers shipping to Africa. Underlying technology is logistics-orchestration rather than software: the company leverages Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping methods through carrier partnerships with Grimaldi, Wallenius, Hoegh, EUKOR, and NYK, with weekly departures from major East Coast, Gulf Coast, and West Coast U.S. ports and country-specific destination coverage spanning 50+ countries. The product portfolio includes international car/SUV/van shipping, motorcycle and powersports transport, boat and yacht transport, RV and motorhome shipping, heavy machinery shipping, shared and exclusive container shipping, marine insurance, door-to-port pickup, an online tracking customer dashboard, and a Secure-Buy buyer-protection service launched in March 2026. The company holds NVOCC license #019334NF from the Federal Maritime Commission, is BBB accredited, and has cumulatively transported over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.
Revenue is generated primarily on a per-shipment unit-pricing basis, with published base rates that vary by vehicle size, departure port, and destination: from $781 (New York to Bremerhaven) for a standard sedan to Europe, $1,130 to Ghana, $1,335 to Nigeria, and $1,975 to South Africa. Marine insurance is monetized as a tiered add-on at 1.75% of declared vehicle value for full coverage and 1.25% for total-loss-only coverage, with a 0.3% basic carrier liability baseline; door-to-port pickup, customs clearance assistance, and destination delivery are also billed as ancillary services. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer plus inside sales: a multilingual (9-language) website with instant online quoting, toll-free (888-805-4994) and direct (858-547-0840) phone lines, SMS support, and dedicated U.S. military PCS handling with a $75 discount. The company does not disclose revenue or financials but reported 37% revenue growth in October 2025 driven by EV shipping to Africa, alongside 42% volume growth on the U.K./Germany import corridor and 21% demand growth for vehicles and heavy machinery.
Ship Overseas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ship Overseas
- Legal name
- Ship Overseas, Inc.
- Website
- https://shipoverseas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ship Overseas is a San Diego-based NVOCC (founded 1983) that arranges international RoRo and container shipping of cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and heavy machinery between the U.S. and 50+ countries across Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, serving individual consumers, U.S. military PCS relocations, and commercial shippers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ship Overseas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Vehicle Shipping Services
- NAICS
- Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Vehicle Shipping & Import Assistance (HSAKACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Vehicle Shipping & Export (RoRo/Container) (HSAKAFAJ), Household Goods Moving & International Shipping (THACALAE)
Keywords
Where Ship Overseas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ship Overseas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Vehicle Shipping Services: Primary revenue stream from international vehicle shipping using RoRo and container methods. Pricing based on vehicle size/type, destination distance, departure port location, and optional services (door-to-port vs self-delivery). Base rates starting from $790 for standard vehicles to Europe.
- Marine Insurance: Supplemental marine insurance offered as add-on service. Basic carrier liability included; full coverage insurance at 1.75% of vehicle value for comprehensive protection against damage or loss during transit.
- Door-to-Port Service: Optional pickup service where company collects vehicle from customer location and transports to shipping port, available at additional fee.
- Customs Clearance Assistance: Assistance with import regulations, taxes, duties, and delivery services bundled with shipping or offered as separate service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to Europe starting from $790 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to Africa from $1,200+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to Belgium from $905 (East Coast) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to France from $1,055 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to Germany from $781 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to Panama base rate $1,000+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RoRo Shipping to Puerto Rico starting from $800 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Marine Insurance at 1.75% of vehicle value |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Middle East Surcharge effective March 2, 2026 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ship Overseas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ship Overseas, Inc. is an international vehicle shipping company that transports cars, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, RVs/motorhomes, and heavy machinery between the United States and global destinations using Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping methods. The company offers door-to-port and port-to-port services, customs clearance assistance, marine insurance, and specialized handling for military PCS relocations, with weekly departures from major U.S. ports to Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and inbound to the USA.
Product overview
Ship Overseas operates as an international vehicle shipping company offering a comprehensive suite of logistics services centered on Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping methods. The core product portfolio consists of International Car Shipping (covering sedans, SUVs, vans, and trucks), Boat & Yacht Transport, Motorcycle & Powersports Shipping, RV & Motorhome Shipping, and Heavy Machinery Shipping — each with dedicated country-specific sub-products for Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa), Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece), Latin America (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Puerto Rico), and the Middle East (Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and others). Supporting services include Marine Insurance, Ship Containers (shared and exclusive), Door-to-Port pickup service, Online Shipment Tracking, and a new Secure-Buy buyer-protection service launched in March 2026. The company also provides specialized Military & Government Shipping for U.S. military PCS relocations. Shipping methods offered include RoRo (most cost-effective, for operational vehicles), Shared Container (budget-conscious with personal belongings allowed), and Exclusive Container (maximum protection for luxury/classic vehicles). The company holds NVOCC certification and BBB accreditation, and has transported over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International Car Shipping Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping service for sedans, compact cars, and minivans between the USA and international destinations including Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and USA imports.
- SUV Shipping International shipping service for sport utility vehicles using RoRo or container methods, with pricing based on vehicle size and destination.
- Van Shipping International shipping of cargo vans and commercial vans via RoRo or container methods.
- Motorcycle & Powersports Shipping Secure international shipping for motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other powersports vehicles, including crated and secured transport options.
- Boat & Yacht Transport Door-to-port marine transport for boats, yachts, sailboats, and jet skis with professional shrink-wrapping, securing, and specialized handling to European and international ports.
- RV & Motorhome Shipping Custom oversized transport solutions for motorhomes, campers, buses, and trailers via Roll-on/Roll-off shipping.
- Heavy Machinery Shipping
- Ship Containers Shared and exclusive container shipping services for vehicles and cargo, allowing personal belongings to be included in shared containers and offering maximum protection for high-value vehicles.
- Marine Insurance Supplemental marine insurance coverage for vehicles during ocean transit, available at 1.75% of vehicle value for full coverage and 1.25% for total loss only.
- USA Car Import Services
- Secure-Buy Service Buyer-protection service designed to safeguard customers purchasing vehicles that will be shipped internationally, mitigating fraud and transaction risk.
- Military & Government Shipping Specialized shipping services for active duty U.S. military personnel, government contractors, and diplomatic staff, including PCS relocations, base delivery, and authorization for vehicles with active loans. $75 discount on PCS moves.
Quantifiable outcome
- 37% revenue growth driven by EV shipping to Africa
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ship Overseas
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ship Overseas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ship Overseas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ship Overseas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A-1 Auto Transport: US-based auto transport company offering international vehicle shipping services including RoRo and container options to destinations similar to Ship Overseas. Directly competes for individual consumers, military PCS, and international vehicle shipping customers across the same corridors.
- ShipYourCarNow: Direct competitor focused on international car shipping via RoRo and container methods. Operates with similar NVOCC-style model targeting individual vehicle owners and military PCS relocations across comparable global routes.
- CFR Rinkens: Specialist in international vehicle shipping and classic car transport using RoRo and container methods. Directly comparable service portfolio including door-to-port, customs clearance, and premium container options for luxury and collector vehicles.
- Montway Auto Transport: Auto transport broker and carrier serving both domestic US and international shipping needs. Comparable technology-enabled quote platform and customer segments, with growing international vehicle shipping capabilities.
- Plycar: International vehicle and heavy equipment shipping company offering RoRo and container services globally. Directly comparable product offering with similar multi-corridor international vehicle shipping business model.
Broad incumbents
- Kuehne+Nagel: Global logistics giant with significant vehicle shipping (KN Automotive) capabilities via RoRo and container. Larger and broader scope than Ship Overseas but competes for high-volume commercial vehicle shipping and major dealership/fleet contracts.
- DHL Global Forwarding: Major global freight forwarder with automotive logistics capabilities including ocean vehicle transport. Competes for enterprise vehicle shipping contracts while offering a much broader service portfolio including air, road, and contract logistics.
- Wallenius Wilhelmsen: One of the world's largest RoRo vessel operators and vehicle logistics providers. Both a partner (carrier) and partial competitor to Ship Overseas through its own finished vehicle logistics services, especially for commercial/automotive OEM customers.
- Grimaldi Lines: Major RoRo carrier and vehicle logistics operator. Functions as a vessel partner to Ship Overseas for ocean capacity but also offers competing end-to-end vehicle shipping services through its own logistics arm in select markets.
Regional players
- Cosmos Marine Shipping: Vehicle shipping specialist operating in Mediterranean and European corridors with strong presence in Greek and Italian ports. Regionally comparable to Ship Overseas for European destinations like Greece, Italy, and Spain.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ship Overseas social profiles
Digital presenceShip Overseas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Ship Overseas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ship Overseas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ship Overseas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ship Overseas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ship Overseas
What does Ship Overseas do?
Ship Overseas, Inc. is an international vehicle shipping company that transports cars, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, RVs/motorhomes, and heavy machinery between the United States and global destinations using Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping methods. The company offers door-to-port and port-to-port services, customs clearance assistance, marine insurance, and specialized handling for military PCS relocations, with weekly departures from major U.S. ports to Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and inbound to the USA.
Is Ship Overseas a public or private company?
Ship Overseas is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Ship Overseas founded?
Ship Overseas was founded in 1985. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ship Overseas based?
Ship Overseas is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ship Overseas make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Shipping Services are the primary driver. The others are marine Insurance, door-to-Port Service and customs Clearance Assistance.
Who are Ship Overseas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A-1 Auto Transport, ShipYourCarNow, CFR Rinkens, Montway Auto Transport and Plycar. Broad incumbents are Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Global Forwarding, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Grimaldi Lines. Cosmos Marine Shipping is listed as a regional player.
Does Ship Overseas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ship Overseas.
What industry is Ship Overseas in?
Ship Overseas's product category is International Vehicle Shipping Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKACAJ, International Vehicle Shipping & Import Assistance, with a secondary code of HSAKAFAJ, International Vehicle Shipping & Export (RoRo/Container). Its NAICS code is 48832 and its SIC code is 4731.