SPI Marine
SPI Marine is a specialty cargo shipping broker founded in 1986, operating seven global offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company serves shipowners, charterers, and traders in chemical tankers and specialty liquid cargoes through brokerage services, the CKB Fleet data platform, and the MPLA joint venture.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersMapo, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SPI Marine does
SPI Marine is a specialty cargo shipping broker focused on chemical tankers and specialty liquid cargoes. Founded in 1986 as STCI in South Norwalk, Connecticut, the company today operates seven global offices spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and serves shipowners, charterers, and traders operating in the niche chemical and specialty liquid shipping markets. The company's positioning addresses sub-segments of shipping that require specialized handling knowledge, regulatory familiarity, and counterparties with deep domain credibility — characteristics that limit the addressable market but raise barriers to entry.
The company's product portfolio combines traditional brokerage services with productized data and intelligence assets. CKB Fleet, launched in April 2023, is a data platform tracking 5,100+ vessels in the specialty tonnage segment and represents the company's pivot toward subscription-based market intelligence. The Current is a market intelligence publication, and MPLA is a joint venture extending capabilities into adjacent markets. AI-assisted software is used to support preparation of market content, with all output reviewed by personnel before publication. The company has invested in senior data and commercial leadership, including a Group Head of Data & Digital and a Group Head of Business Development.
SPI Marine's business model combines brokerage commissions on specialty cargo transactions, subscription-based access to data platforms (CKB Fleet, The Current), and revenue from the MPLA joint venture. The company is private and founder/management-owned, with 11–50 employees globally. Expansion has been measured and multi-decade: Sohar/Middle East (2006–2007), UK (2014), Netherlands (2022), with the MPLA JV (2014) and CKB Fleet (2023) representing the most significant product and capability extensions. No revenue, funding, or ownership transaction data is disclosed.
SPI Marine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPI Marine
- Legal name
- SPI Marine (Houston), Inc.
- Website
- https://spimarine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SPI Marine is a specialty cargo shipping broker founded in 1986, operating seven global offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company serves shipowners, charterers, and traders in chemical tankers and specialty liquid cargoes through brokerage services, the CKB Fleet data platform, and the MPLA joint venture.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SPI Marine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Cargo Shipbroking & Maritime Logistics
- NAICS
- Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support) (TLAHAJAI)
Keywords
Where SPI Marine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mapo
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
SPI Marine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Shipping Brokerage: SPI Marine earns commissions on chartering and brokerage services for specialty cargo shipments. Acting as true business partners, they combine understanding of client goals with strategic market coverage to identify vessels and negotiate agreements.
- Market Intelligence Subscriptions: Subscription-based market reports and tradelane analysis delivered through 'The Current' platform, including weekly and monthly chemical and tanker reports, Iran Watch coverage, and regional tradelane reports.
- Voyage Operations Support: Post-voyage services including claims management, demurrage validation, and performance review that feeds into planning future fixtures.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SPI Marine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SPI Marine is a specialty cargo shipbroker providing end-to-end maritime logistics for chemicals, vegetable oils, methanol, caustic soda, glycols, and clean petroleum products. Services span four pillars — Intelligence (market position analysis, timing optimization), Chartering (vessel qualification, negotiation, contract structuring), Operations (24/7 voyage monitoring with proactive intervention), and Post-Voyage (claims management, demurrage validation, performance review). The company also operates CKB Fleet, a proprietary data and analytics platform tracking 5,100+ chemical tanker vessels, and publishes 'The Current' market intelligence reports across major tradelanes.
Product overview
SPI Marine operates as a specialty cargo shipping company with two core product lines: (1) SPI Marine brokerage services providing integrated Intelligence, Chartering, Operations, and Post-Voyage services for specialty liquid cargoes; and (2) CKB Fleet, a standalone data analytics platform tracking 5,100+ chemical tankers. The Current market intelligence platform delivers tradelane reports across major routes (Transatlantic, Far East, Mediterranean, West Coast India, South America) plus Iran Watch disruption coverage. Manuport Logistics Asia (MPLA) joint venture extends services into freight forwarding and ISO tank logistics. The four-pillar service model—Intelligence, Chartering, Operations, Post-Voyage—is delivered through 7 global offices (Houston, Norwalk, Newark, Rotterdam, Seoul, Singapore, Sohar).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 40 years of experience delivering specialized knowledge, responsive communication, and measurable value
Companies that use SPI Marine
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SPI Marine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature2 records
SPI Marine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Manuport Logistics NVcoreSPI Marine formed Manuport Logistics Asia (MPLA) in partnership with Manuport Logistics NV, operating from Singapore. This strategic joint venture delivers freight forwarding and logistics solutions beyond traditional shipbroking, marking expansion into ISO tank container solutions and bulk liquid transportation across Asia.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves15 records
Expansion highlights8 records
SPI Marine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Poten & Partners: Poten & Partners is a New York-based shipbroker specializing in product and chemical tankers. Closest direct competitor to SPI Marine with a similar specialty cargo focus, particularly in the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic.
- Fearnley Securities / Fearnleys: Fearnleys is a Norwegian shipbroking and advisory firm with strong product and chemical tanker coverage. Directly competes with SPI Marine in chemical and clean petroleum tanker fixtures, particularly in Atlantic and Asian markets.
- McQuilling Partners: McQuilling Partners is a U.S.-based shipbroker and shipping advisor with tanker and dry cargo expertise. Comparable to SPI Marine as a specialty-focused broker with overlapping tanker clientele.
- BRS Group (Barry Rogliano Salles): BRS Group is a French-headquartered global shipbroking firm with strong tanker and dry cargo coverage. Directly competes with SPI Marine in chemical and product tanker chartering across multiple trade lanes.
- Simpson Spence Young (SSY): SSY is one of the largest independent shipbroking groups globally with deep coverage in tankers, including chemical and product tankers. Directly competes with SPI Marine in tanker chartering broking across similar trade lanes.
- Braemar ACM (formerly Braemar Shipping Services): Braemar ACM is a London-based shipbroking and maritime services group active in tankers and special cargo. Directly competes with SPI Marine in tanker chartering and advisory, with broader service offerings including securities and consulting.
- EA Gibson Shipbrokers: EA Gibson is a London-based shipbroker focused on tankers, including chemical and product segments. Directly competes with SPI Marine in specialty cargo brokerage and advisory services.
Emerging players
- Clarksons Research: Clarksons Research is the data and intelligence arm of Clarkson PLC, providing shipping market data and analytics. Comparable to SPI Marine's CKB Fleet and The Current platforms as a maritime data and market intelligence provider.
- Axsmarine: Axsmarine is a digital shipbroking and freight technology platform specializing in chemical and tanker shipping. Comparable to SPI Marine's CKB Fleet as a specialized data and analytics platform for the chemical tanker market.
Broad incumbents
- Clarkson PLC: Clarkson PLC is the world's largest shipbroker, offering broking, research, and financial services across all major shipping segments including tankers. Compares to SPI Marine as a broader incumbent operating in the same shipping brokerage space but with much wider scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SPI Marine social profiles
Digital presenceSPI Marine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPI Marine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
SPI Marine subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
SPI Marine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPI Marine 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 SPI Marine
What does SPI Marine do?
SPI Marine is a specialty cargo shipbroker providing end-to-end maritime logistics for chemicals, vegetable oils, methanol, caustic soda, glycols, and clean petroleum products. Services span four pillars — Intelligence (market position analysis, timing optimization), Chartering (vessel qualification, negotiation, contract structuring), Operations (24/7 voyage monitoring with proactive intervention), and Post-Voyage (claims management, demurrage validation, performance review). The company also operates CKB Fleet, a proprietary data and analytics platform tracking 5,100+ chemical tanker vessels, and publishes 'The Current' market intelligence reports across major tradelanes.
Is SPI Marine a public or private company?
SPI Marine is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SPI Marine founded?
SPI Marine was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SPI Marine based?
SPI Marine is headquartered in Mapo, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does SPI Marine make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Shipping Brokerage is the primary driver. The others are market Intelligence Subscriptions and voyage Operations Support.
Who are SPI Marine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Poten & Partners, Fearnley Securities / Fearnleys, McQuilling Partners, BRS Group (Barry Rogliano Salles), Simpson Spence Young (SSY), Braemar ACM (formerly Braemar Shipping Services) and EA Gibson Shipbrokers. Emerging players are Clarksons Research and Axsmarine. Clarkson PLC is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does SPI Marine have an API?
No public API is recorded for SPI Marine.
What industry is SPI Marine in?
SPI Marine's product category is Specialty Cargo Shipbroking & Maritime Logistics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAJAI, Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support). Its NAICS code is 48839 and its SIC code is 4731.