Nautilus International

What Nautilus International does

Nautilus International Holding Corporation is a privately held maritime services holding company headquartered in Long Beach, California, providing business administration and management services to a portfolio of operating subsidiaries that have collectively served the U.S. maritime community for over a century. Operating subsidiaries include Metro Ports (terminal operations and stevedoring across bulk, breakbulk, ro/ro, and special project cargo), Metro Cruise Services (cruise terminal management, ship agency, terminal security, shore excursions, and ground guest services for major cruise lines), Metro Events (San Francisco waterfront event venues at Pier 27, 29, and 35), Terminal Security Solutions (manned maritime security with USCG-accredited MTSA/ISPS training), Bulk Warehouse Services (dry cargo storage and transloading), and Nautilus Logistics (nationwide freight and truckload brokerage). The company is also party to two recent strategic joint ventures: Vancouver Bulk Terminal (with Neltume Ports at Port of Vancouver USA, under a 30-year lease with two 10-year extension options) and Hansen-Metro Elevation (50/50 with Hansen-Mueller Co., grain handling and export at Port of Houston City Docks).

The group's revenue model is B2B enterprise field sales, with custom multi-year contracts negotiated directly with shipping companies, cruise lines, port authorities, and industrial commodity shippers across more than 25 U.S. ports spanning the West Coast, Gulf Coast, East Coast, and Great Lakes. Underlying technology includes the CargoNav supply chain visibility platform developed at the Port of Long Beach, the EyeFox AI-powered X-ray auto-threat detection software (exclusively partnered with NeuralGuard and distributed via Terminal Security Solutions for cruise industry security), and an environmental infrastructure layer that completed the transition of Metro Ports' Port of Long Beach operations to renewable diesel (R99), reported to yield an 85% carbon emission reduction against a 2023-2024 baseline. Notable customer relationships include CMA CGM and Maersk (methanol-powered shipping corridors), Solvay (soda ash export facility partnership), and National Carbon Technologies (wood pellet exports), supported by institutional trust demonstrated through a $25.3 million U.S. DOT PIDP grant for Houston grain elevator upgrades and a $20 million California Energy Commission grant for the Pier Wind offshore wind project.

The go-to-market motion is anchored by long-term port concessions and direct enterprise relationships rather than broad marketing; the company's scale commentary cites 100+ years of maritime service and operational presence at the Port of Long Beach's busiest-ever 9.9 million TEU year in 2024. The holding company is led by President and CEO Robert B. Owens (succeeding James R. Callahan, now chairman), with a professionalized C-suite across CFO, CCO, COO, CIO, General Counsel/CCO, and subsidiary-level presidents. Nautilus has no public listing, no disclosed external funding rounds, and operates with a small corporate headcount of 51-100 employees, while field operations are executed through its operating subsidiary network and labor partners.

Name

Nautilus International

Legal name

Nautilus International Holding Corporation

Website

https://nautilusintl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nautilus International is a privately held maritime services holding company in Long Beach, California, operating through subsidiaries that provide stevedoring, terminal operations, cruise terminal management, maritime security, bulk handling, and logistics brokerage to shipping lines, cruise operators, and industrial commodity shippers across more than 25 U.S. ports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Terminal Operations & Stevedoring Services

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Warehousing and Storage (49319), Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB), Inland Container Depots (ICD) / Inland Ports (TLALAJAB), Port Stakeholder Coordination (Terminal, Agents, Customs, Pilots, Tugs) (TLAHAFAJ)

Keywords

• Maritime terminal operations
• Stevedoring services
• Cruise terminal management
• Port logistics
• Bulk cargo handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices29 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Terminal Operations & Stevedoring Services: Revenue generated from terminal operator and stevedoring services including bulk, breakbulk, ro/ro, and special project cargo handling. Services span across multiple US ports with a network of subsidiaries.
2. Cruise Terminal Management: Revenue from cruise terminal management, ship agency, terminal security, shore excursions, and ground guest services for major cruise lines.
3. Maritime Logistics & Transportation: Freight and truckload brokerage services including Dry Vans, Flatbeds, RGN's, Hot Shots, and Sprinter Vans transportation brokerage.
4. Bulk Commodity Handling & Storage: Dry cargo storage, transloading, and care services at port locations; grain elevation and export services; bulk commodity shipping and logistics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nautilus International Holding Corporation is a maritime services holding company that provides business administration and management services to a portfolio of wholly-owned and joint-venture subsidiary companies. Through subsidiaries including Metro Ports, Metro Cruise, Metro Events, Bulk Warehouse Services, Nautilus Logistics, Terminal Security Solutions, Vancouver Bulk Terminal, and Hansen-Metro Elevation, the company delivers terminal operations, stevedoring, cruise terminal management, dry cargo storage and transloading, transportation brokerage, maritime security, bulk commodity export, and waterfront event venue services across U.S. ports.

Product overview

Nautilus International Holding Corporation is a maritime services holding company providing business administration and management to subsidiary marine transportation companies serving the industry for over a century. The company operates a portfolio of specialized subsidiaries including: Metro Ports (stevedoring and terminal operations), Metro Cruise (cruise terminal services), Metro Events (San Francisco waterfront venues), Bulk Warehouse Services (dry cargo storage), Nautilus Logistics (transportation brokerage), Terminal Security Solutions (maritime security), Vancouver Bulk Terminal (joint venture bulk export at Port of Vancouver USA), and Hansen-Metro Elevation (joint venture grain elevator at Port of Houston). The company offers integrated maritime operational solutions spanning terminal operations, cargo handling, cruise services, security, and logistics across U.S. and international ports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metro Ports Terminal Operations & Stevedoring Terminal operator and stevedoring services for bulk, breakbulk, ro/ro, and special project cargo across multiple U.S. ports. Includes warehousing and terminal services for maritime shipping companies and cargo handlers.
• Metro Cruise Terminal Management Cruise terminal management, stevedoring, ship's agency, terminal security services, shore excursions, and ground guest services for major cruise ship lines across multiple U.S. homeports.
• Metro Events Waterfront Venues Event venue management at San Francisco waterfront locations (Pier 27, Pier 29, Pier 35) offering flexible spaces for corporate receptions, private parties, fundraisers, tasting events, and expos.
• Bulk Warehouse Services Dry cargo storage, transloading, and care services at port locations. Provides secure, weather-proof warehousing in customizable timeframes for maritime supply chain management.
• Nautilus Logistics Transportation Brokerage Maritime-focused transportation brokerage offering nationwide freight and truckload services including Dry Vans, Flatbeds, RGNs, Hot Shots, and Sprinter Vans. Leverages longstanding maritime industry connections for cost-effective pricing and carrier coverage.
• Terminal Security Solutions (TSS) Maritime security services providing manned security solutions, integrated screening equipment, U.S. Coast Guard accredited certification courses, and MTSA/ISPS Code compliance consulting for cruise, port, and cargo terminal industries.
• Vancouver Bulk Terminal (VBT) Joint venture with Neltume Ports operating the Terminal 2 bulk facility at Port of Vancouver USA under a 30-year lease. Handles a broad range of heavy mineral bulk commodities with speed, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
• Hansen-Metro Elevation (HME) 50/50 joint venture with Hansen-Mueller Co. providing grain elevation and export services at Port of Houston City Docks, supporting domestic agricultural producers and global agricultural trade markets.
• EyeFox AI Auto-Threat Detection AI-driven X-ray security auto-threat detection software developed through exclusive partnership with NeuralGuard for cruise industry security screening. Provides automated threat detection at high accuracy, reducing passenger contact and increasing detection rates of prohibited items at cruise terminals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% reduction in carbon emissions achieved through renewable diesel transition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• California Energy CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Received $20 million from California Energy Commission for Pier Wind offshore wind project at Port of Long Beach.
• CMA CGMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partner carrier for methanol-powered shipping corridors as part of Port of Long Beach's green initiatives under the $3.2 billion Capital Improvement Program.
• MaerskminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partner carrier for methanol-powered shipping corridors as part of Port of Long Beach's green initiatives under the $3.2 billion Capital Improvement Program.
• NeuralGuardcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Exclusive strategic partnership for AI-driven EyeFox auto-threat detection software in the cruise industry. Terminal Security Solutions (TSS) partnered with NeuralGuard to bring cutting-edge AI X-ray security screening technology to cruise terminals, featuring automated threat detection at exceptional accuracy levels.
• Hansen-Mueller Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 202450/50 joint venture forming Hansen Metro Elevation (HME) at Port of Houston City Docks. Hansen-Mueller Co., founded in 1979, is a distinguished grain trading enterprise. HME provides grain elevation and export services supporting domestic producers and global markets. The partnership received $25 million PIDP grant for facility upgrades.
• SolvaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2023Strategic partnership to build world-class soda ash shipping facility at Terminal 2, Berth 7 at Port of Vancouver USA. Solvay is a global leader in the soda ash market. This partnership represents substantial expansion of global export capacity in the world's fastest-growing soda ash production region.
• Neltume PortscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Joint venture partner with Nautilus International for Vancouver Bulk Terminal at Port of Vancouver USA's Terminal 2 bulk facility. The 30-year lease agreement (with two potential 10-year extensions) represents a half-century commitment to the region.
• Green MarineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2020Metro Ports enrolled its Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor terminal into Green Marine environmental certification program, the leading environmental certification program for North America's maritime transportation industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GAC Group: Global shipping, logistics, and marine services provider offering port agency, hub services, and contract logistics. Comparable to Nautilus Logistics and Metro Ports in ship-agency, freight forwarding, and integrated port services, but with much broader international footprint.
• APM Terminals: Global terminal operating arm of A.P. Moller-Maersk, operating dozens of container terminals worldwide. Comparable in terminal operations and stevedoring, but with global scale, container specialization, and integration with ocean carrier parent (Maersk is also a Nautilus customer).
• Inchcape Shipping Services: Global port agency and maritime services provider offering ship agency, hub services, and crew services across major ports. Comparable to Nautilus's cruise ship agency and Metro Ports terminal operations in service scope and B2B maritime customer base.
• International Shipholding Corporation (Saltchuk): Diversified maritime holding company (now part of Saltchuk) with port services, terminal operations, and bulk shipping. Comparable to Nautilus as a maritime-focused holding company with terminal and logistics subsidiaries, though with broader shipping operations.

Direct peers

• Watco Companies: US-based transportation services company operating terminal and port facilities, rail, and mechanical services. Comparable in multi-modal terminal operations and bulk cargo handling, particularly at inland ports where Nautilus operates (Stockton, Burns Harbor).
• TOTE Maritime: US maritime transportation and terminal services operator serving Puerto Rico and other domestic routes. Comparable in US-flag terminal operations and maritime logistics, though with narrower geographic and commodity focus than Nautilus.
• Ports America: Largest US terminal operator and stevedore, providing cargo handling and terminal management across major US ports. Directly comparable to Nautilus's Metro Ports subsidiary in scale, business model, and customer base (shipping lines, cargo owners).
• SSA Marine (Carrix): Major US and international terminal operator and stevedore owned by Carrix. Operates container, bulk, and breakbulk terminals with similar concession-based business model to Metro Ports and competes directly for port authority contracts.
• Ceres Terminals: North American terminal operator providing stevedoring, terminal management, and cargo handling services at multiple US ports. Directly comparable to Metro Ports in business model, customer segments, and geographic overlap.

Regional players

• Kirby Corporation: Largest US inland marine transportation and diesel engine services provider. Tangentially comparable to Nautilus Logistics for bulk/breakbulk movements and to Metro Ports' bulk handling, though Kirby's primary focus is inland barge transportation rather than port-side stevedoring.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nautilus-international-holding-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nautilus International