What Zodiac Maritime does

Zodiac Maritime is a privately held international ship management company headquartered in London, founded in 1976, with 501-1,000 employees. The company manages and operates cargo vessels on behalf of ship owners across global shipping routes, including container ships and specialized car carriers. Its customer base spans shipping industry and cargo owners, with recent operational expansion into electric vehicle maritime logistics as demonstrated by the Morning Midas vessel transporting approximately 3,000 vehicles (including around 800 EVs) on trans-Pacific routes. The company is led by CEO Daniel Ofer and maintains a commercial director and a deep bench of chief engineers across multiple departments.

Zodiac Maritime generates revenue through managed services — specifically vessel management fees and charter arrangements with ship owners such as Gortal Shipping. Its operating geographies span the Middle East/Gulf (UAE, Strait of Hormuz), North America, and trans-Pacific corridors, supporting a global footprint claim. The company has no disclosed proprietary technology stack, patents, or AI capabilities; its competitive position rests on operational expertise, crew management, technical vessel operations, and regulatory compliance across diverse cargo types and international waters.

The company has been subject to two notable operational incidents that have shaped its recent public profile: in April 2024, the MSC Aries (leased from Gortal Shipping) was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Gulf waters, with Iran subsequently demanding a $170 million fine from the Israeli-linked owner; in June 2025, the Morning Midas caught fire off Alaska carrying vehicles including EVs, forcing crew abandonment. These events highlight both the geopolitical and operational risks inherent in the company's exposure to high-tension shipping corridors and hazardous cargo.

Name

Zodiac Maritime

Legal name

Zodiac Maritime

Website

https://zodiac-maritime.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Zodiac Maritime is a privately held London-based international ship management company, founded in 1976, that manages and operates cargo vessels — including car carriers transporting EVs — on behalf of ship owners across global shipping routes including the Gulf and trans-Pacific corridors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Ship Management

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF)

Keywords

• Ship management services
• Cargo vessel operations
• Maritime logistics
• Crew management
• Commercial shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vessel Management Services: Zodiac Maritime provides vessel management services for cargo ships, managing operations on behalf of ship owners. Revenue generated through management fees and charter arrangements for vessels such as the MSC Aries and Morning Midas.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Zodiac Maritime provides vessel management services for cargo ships, managing operations on behalf of ship owners. The company delivers ship management, crew management, technical operations, and maritime logistics for commercial cargo shipping including container ships and car carriers transporting goods such as electric vehicles across international shipping routes.

Product overview

Zodiac Maritime is a maritime ship management and operations company. The company operates and manages cargo vessels including container ships and car carriers. Based on available sources, Zodiac Maritime provides ship management services, crew management, technical operations, and maritime logistics for commercial cargo shipping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vessel Management Services Professional ship management services for cargo vessels on behalf of ship owners, including management of container ships and car carriers across international shipping routes such as the Gulf/Strait of Hormuz and Pacific waters.
• Crew Management Crew operations management for managed cargo vessels, ensuring properly staffed ship operations across international waters.
• Technical Operations and Vessel Maintenance Technical operations and maintenance support for managed cargo ships, delivered through the company's engineering department heads.
• Maritime Logistics for Commercial Cargo Maritime logistics services supporting commercial cargo transportation, including vehicle and electric vehicle shipping, demonstrated by the Morning Midas operation carrying approximately 3,000 vehicles including around 800 EVs.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Gortal ShippingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2024Zodiac Maritime managed the MSC Aries, which was leased from Gortal Shipping. The vessel was intercepted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in April 2024 while heading toward the Strait of Hormuz. Iran subsequently demanded a $170 million fine from the Israeli owner.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Fleet Management Limited: Hong Kong-based ship management company managing a large diversified fleet on behalf of shipowners worldwide. Comparable in scope and customer base to Zodiac Maritime.
• OSM Maritime Group: Norway-based ship and offshore management group providing technical management, crewing, and newbuilding supervision. A direct peer competing for third-party management mandates.
• V.Ships (V.Group): The world's largest independent ship management company, providing crew management, technical management, and marine services across a global managed fleet. Directly comparable to Zodiac Maritime as a third-party manager of cargo vessels for shipowners.
• Anglo-Eastern Ship Management: Hong Kong-headquartered independent ship manager with several hundred vessels under management, offering technical and crew management services globally. Closely comparable in scale and service mix to Zodiac Maritime.
• Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM): German-based global ship management group managing a diversified fleet of container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers. Directly competes with Zodiac for third-party management mandates from shipowners.
• Columbia Shipmanagement: Cyprus-based ship manager operating a large fleet of container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers under third-party management contracts. Comparable to Zodiac as a full-service independent manager.
• Thome Group: Singapore-based ship management and offshore services provider managing tankers, bulkers, and container vessels worldwide. Directly comparable to Zodiac's third-party ship management offering.
• Wilhelmsen Ship Management: Part of the Wilhelmsen group, providing technical management, crewing, and maritime services to a global fleet. A direct peer to Zodiac in the independent ship management segment.
• Synergy Marine Group: Singapore-headquartered independent ship manager with a large managed fleet across tankers, bulkers, and containers. Directly competes with Zodiac for shipowner management contracts.
• Wallem Group: Hong Kong-headquartered ship management company offering technical management and crewing services across a global managed fleet. Comparable to Zodiac in service mix and target customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zodiac-maritime

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zodiac Maritime